After suffering two devastating back-to-back knockout defeats at the hands of Tony Bellew, David Haye is the last person you'd expect to be backing Tony Bellew ahead of this weekend.

Bellew faces off against Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed cruiserweight championship this Saturday in Manchester.

Predictions for who comes out on top have gone back and forth. However, one of Bellew's former foes has backed him to emerge victorious over the imperious Ukrainian.

Usyk is certainly a formidable opponent, boasting four belts, a 15-fight undefeated record with 11 knockout wins. But many believe that Bellew's experience can help him exploit the 31-year-old's weaknesses - including David Haye.

David Haye retired from fighting earlier this year after his back-to-back defeats to Bellew. 

When asked if he thinks his former rival can get the better of the current champion, he said: "As unbeatable as Usyk looks physically, if anyone is going to beat him it's going to be Bellew," per The Metro.

"The one thing you need to know with Tony Bellew is he doesn't look great aesthetically, but somehow, he finds a way to win."

"If it was me going into the ring against Usyk, a tricky southpaw, I would not press the fight that much. I'd look for movement.

"I wouldn't shoot to his body as I've seen him hurt a few years ago with this strategy. A body assault could be very useful in the early rounds.

"Hopefully, by rounds 7-12 you'd be putting the pressure and heat on him. If you get caught with a shot early, you're not going to leave yourself open to it again.

"Make him try and counter, and then counter that."

However, Bellew isn't the only British boxing star in Usyk's sights.

With his desire to move up to heavyweight recently being revealed, the Ukranian is believed to be eyeing up a fight with Anthony Joshua.

Although, if Haye's prediction comes to fruition, those plans may be stopped dead in their tracks.