The Liverpudlian is hoping to go out on a high against the feared 15-0 Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk

Tony Bellew reaches for a farewell victory on Saturday night, against the feared Oleksandr Usyk, that only his close associates give him a realistic chance of winning. It is the way the emotional Liverpudlian would want it, belligerently defiant all the way to the last bell, whenever it is rung, at 35.

If “Bomber” conjures up a 34th win to round out a career that began 11 years ago on a Nottingham Saturday night on which Amir Khan and Kell Brook shared a dressing room but few pleasantries, he will surely leave to thundering applause from all around the Manchester Arena. If he loses, he will do so in a doomed blur of leather.

Bellew – who came in less than a pound below the 14st 4lb limit on Friday, and a pound heavier than the champion – declared: “I feel fantastic. Fat boy is in shape. Usyk is in the deep end. There will be war. He’s a formidable champion, one of the pound-for-pound kings of the world. We’re going to create madness.”

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A Bellew victory is unlikely, whatever the enthusiasm of his British backers. Usyk, younger and frighteningly fresh, arrives with all four cruiserweight belts after wrenching the WBC and WBO versions from the grasp of the similarly awesome Murat Gassiev in August, which brought to a rousing conclusion the World Boxing Super Series tournament at the weight just below heavy – where Bellew made such a dramatic statement in two stoppage wins over David Haye, closing out his rival’s own excellent career.

Now it is his turn. Can the British fighter who produces almost as many words as punches say goodbye in style? He expresses no doubts or apprehension. He is convinced he can do again in the ring what is least expected of him and live out another fairytale to go with the heroics he portrayed on his film debut two years ago in Creed. Bellew played the part of “Pretty” Ricky Conlan in that film, a source of much merriment (and no little pride) to his friends.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tony Bellew leaps into Eddie Hearn’s arms after beating David Haye for the second time in May of this year. Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The Guardian

But he is back in his serious job now. These punches are for real and Bellew, a canny boxer, will do well to stay out of the way of those thrown by a 31-year-old foe with few battle scars, a technician who has stopped 11 of his 15 opponents, with aggregated rather than lightning power. It could be a long night.

When Bellew ventured to Quebec five years ago to confront a more established ring monster in Adonis Stevenson, he also made the requisite noises. He was going to destroy the knockout ogre they were calling Superman but whom Bellew preferred to characterise as “a small man with a huge ego”. Superman, the WBC’s and Ring magazine light-heavyweight champion, hardly lost an exchange or a round and dropped and stopped Bellew (dazed on his feet in a neutral corner) in round five.

Bellew turned 31 on the night of his most crushing ring experience. Five Novembers later, he vows to make his farewell a night to remember.

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As he said last week: “I’m not fighting here for the money. The first Haye fight [in March, 2017] set me up for life.” The second one, in May, did his bank balance no harm, either.

So, why? Because he can. He’s still fit, strong and, for one night at least, has the fire to compete. His best chance is an early stoppage.

As for Stevenson, he is 41 and still knocking opponents out. And eerily, on 1 December in Quebec, he fights another 31-year-old, 15-0 Ukrainian called Oleksandr – Gvozdyk – in the 10th defence of the light-heavyweight title he put on the line against Bellew in the same city in 2013.

Symmetry would suggest wins for the two older men might lead to a rematch. As far as Bellew is concerned, that will not happen. He says he is through with boxing after this and heading off to Hollywood again, for a less stressful but no doubt as colourful new life.