Tony Bellew has voiced his opinion on his close friend Dereck Chisora’s choice of manager, as the 34-year-old heavyweight will partner with ex-rival David Haye, the man who he brawled with in Munich just six years ago.

Bellew has also admitted that he is currently ‘struggling’ to cope with the number of drug tests he has been asked to complete during his training camp, in the build up to his WBO, WBC, WBA and IBF title fight against Oleksandr Usyk.

The two cruiserweights will meet in a titanic, winner-take-all clash at the Manchester Arena on Saturday November 10.

The Liverpudlian bruiser was questioned on Sky Sports News regarding Chisora’s new alliance with Haye, and he stated: “Del Boy is a unique character, he’s a maverick, he doesn’t do things by half-measures.

"I support Del Boy no matter what he does, I didn’t see this coming, but David is a very shrewd businessman.

“Believe you me, I’ve been at the negotiation table with him, not once, but twice. He’s got an awful lot of experience on the other side of the ropes.

"I just wish Del Boy the best and I want to see Dereck Chisora do fantastically well and come away from boxing with a healthy mindset and in good shape.

"If David can help him achieve this then so be it.

“It’s an unusual match-up, I didn’t see it coming, but I wish both guys well. Del Boy is my friend and that’s more important than any other business deal in the world, so I just wish him well.”

‘The Bomber’ was then asked about his future in the sport and how he thinks the fight will play-out on November 10.

“I’m not looking into the future, the only thing I can say on that matter is I hope this fight goes further than two rounds. I hope this fight doesn’t end quickly, because this is the only time in my life where I’m going into a fight and I want the fight beaten out of me,” said Bellew.

“I’m going to win, but I want a hard fight on November 10, this is the reason I signed up to Oleksandr Usyk, the ultimate challenge, the ultimate test, all the belts on the line.

“This should be the hardest fight of my career and I’m just hoping the big punch doesn’t change that. I need a hard fight, like I said I want the fight beaten out of me, I want to leave the ring on November 10, and say I’m done.

Scroll to 05:00 in the below video to see Bellew talk about Haye and Chisora.

“I don’t want a victory like the David Haye re-match, where I just take the guy apart with ease and don’t take anything away from it. The fans want to see me in a trench war and I want to give them that.”

Bellew (30-2-1, 20 Kos) last fought in the cruiserweight division in October 2016 and will now face the toughest challenge of his career-to-date when he touches gloves with the Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist On November 10.

Usyk is the bookmakers’ favourite to win the fight and retain his titles, but Bellew is used to upsetting the odds and will look to shock the world on the biggest stage and retire a lineal champion and legend of the sport.