bellew v mckenzie

[hurlock]

Mckenzie was due to box on our belfast show on the 15 dec we received a call from dean asking if we would like this fight after talking with team Mckenzie we desired under the presented market it might be better to make this fight now plus it show we are willing to work with any promoting team out there if the fight benfits and is good for the boxer. Over the last few weeks we have worked with Matchroom John Waston, Haymaker Hall vs Davies. Now this one it show if the promoters work together we can give the fans the fights they want to see. And the sports needs

Good to see Frank, hope it's a sign of things to come!!!!

Good luck Tony!

only because they fancy it now.

[Asterix]

Ovil's on a nice run at the moment. Not sure the fight will look very good, but it's a good match up.

[wadey]

Is it just me, but I can't quite understand why Bellew has been given a better opponent than Cleverly on this card.

[crusader]

Is it just me, but I can't quite understand why Bellew has been given a better opponent than Cleverly on this card.

Not so sure about that. When has Mackenzie been competitive with world class opponents like Lakatos has?

[wadey]

Lakatos may have been in with class opponents, but it was some time ago. At least Mckenzie has some current form about him, and personally you'd expect Mckenzie to do a number on Lakatos.

[ourkid1984]

I think overall both Bombers and Clevs oppenants are about even which to me isn't no suprise.

Clev is on the brink of a world title fight so don't see the point in them putting him in with anyone too risky and Bomber is looking to prove that he's better than his last fight so that he can move on to the next level.

In my eyes Bombers fight with Ovil is similar to Clevs against Oakey although I would say that Oakey was slightly higher class than Ovil but Ovil has better punching power.

Either way I think it's good match making and well done to the promoters and managers for letting this happen.

[wadey]

I think overall both Bombers and Clevs oppenants are about even which to me isn't no suprise.

Clev is on the brink of a world title fight so don't see the point in them putting him in with anyone too risky and Bomber is looking to prove that he's better than his last fight so that he can move on to the next level.

In my eyes Bombers fight with Ovil is similar to Clevs against Oakey although I would say that Oakey was slightly higher class than Ovil but Ovil has better punching power.

Either way I think it's good match making and well done to the promoters and managers for letting this happen.

I dissagree, I think Lakatos is an awful opponent, and will do nothing for Cleverly's development. In my opinion unless your coming of a loss then your next opponent should be better than your last. This isnt the case here, and with Cleverly facing a world title fight in the new year. He needs opponents that can give him a test to ensure he is ready when he faces a world class opponent.

[bennie]

Liverpool’s Tony Bellew returns from a recent disappointing display when he defends his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title against former holder Ovill McKenzie in Liverpool on December 11.
Bellew had been knocking 'em over like skittles prior to his struggle with tricky Leeds southpaw Bob Ajisafe in London in September. "Bomber" got a taste of his own medicine when he was floored in the fourth round and spent much of night loading up and generally fighting like a man who had forgotten how to box. Nevertheless, Tony took an unconvincing 12-round decision and will have learned from the experience. As forcefraser said on the boxrec forum: "OK, Bomber didn't look the best, but that fight will do him more good than harm. He has been 12 rounds with a tough, cagey and awkward fighter and he ground out the win."
Bellew, 14-0 (9), moves on to the solid, dangerous McKenzie, who was beaten by Ajisafe on an eight-round decision last year but came back to win Prizefighter with three excellent wins over Terry Dunstan, Darren Corbett and John Keeton respectively. However, he has boxed only once this year: a first-round stoppage of Sheffield's Billy Boyle last February. Nobody has ever done McKenzie any favours. He is familiar with the prospects, the 'away' matches, the spells out and particularly the ups and downs, having won the Commonwealth belt with an upset second-round stoppage of Peter Haymer back in 2006, losing it in his first defence to Dean Francis, who nailed him with a quick left hook.
McKenzie is knocking on these days at 30, and his inactivity - and the Ajisafe comparison - lead you to believe that the well-supported Bellew is more likely to come through next month, probably on a late stoppage.

[Jeff Thomas]

Good fight, Tony will do well to stop him- but he makes a lot of defensive errors, and is wild so Tony should have too much class. He can only improve after last time in terms of credability.

[bad mamma jamma]

lots of you saying that bellw will win by stoppage..look this is a tough fight for both of them, evenly matched for me, can see it going either way..the winner will be the one who wants it most...i see it as a war of attrition more than anything..

[Jeff Thomas]

I don't- I think if it becomes a war of attrition then Tony will be neglecting the things that make him better then a run of the mill banger.

[ourkid1984]

I think overall both Bombers and Clevs oppenants are about even which to me isn't no suprise.

Clev is on the brink of a world title fight so don't see the point in them putting him in with anyone too risky and Bomber is looking to prove that he's better than his last fight so that he can move on to the next level.

In my eyes Bombers fight with Ovil is similar to Clevs against Oakey although I would say that Oakey was slightly higher class than Ovil but Ovil has better punching power.

Either way I think it's good match making and well done to the promoters and managers for letting this happen.

I dissagree, I think Lakatos is an awful opponent, and will do nothing for Cleverly's development. In my opinion unless your coming of a loss then your next opponent should be better than your last. This isnt the case here, and with Cleverly facing a world title fight in the new year. He needs opponents that can give him a test to ensure he is ready when he faces a world class opponent.

I don't think you got where I was coming from, I don't think he's as good level as Clev should be fighting but when there's a world title around the corner why risk losing? Lakatos isn't awful just isn't as good as Clevs previous couple of opponent.

[jBacca]

Finally, a fantastic match up.

McKenzie will come to fight, so expect fireworks.

Bomber within 6.

[wadey]

I think overall both Bombers and Clevs oppenants are about even which to me isn't no suprise.

Clev is on the brink of a world title fight so don't see the point in them putting him in with anyone too risky and Bomber is looking to prove that he's better than his last fight so that he can move on to the next level.

In my eyes Bombers fight with Ovil is similar to Clevs against Oakey although I would say that Oakey was slightly higher class than Ovil but Ovil has better punching power.

Either way I think it's good match making and well done to the promoters and managers for letting this happen.

I dissagree, I think Lakatos is an awful opponent, and will do nothing for Cleverly's development. In my opinion unless your coming of a loss then your next opponent should be better than your last. This isnt the case here, and with Cleverly facing a world title fight in the new year. He needs opponents that can give him a test to ensure he is ready when he faces a world class opponent.

I don't think you got where I was coming from, I don't think he's as good level as Clev should be fighting but when there's a world title around the corner why risk losing? Lakatos isn't awful just isn't as good as Clevs previous couple of opponent.

Lakatos is awful, he has no form coming into the fight, look at his record for his last 9 fights, and tell me if he should be in a ring with a fighter who is one step away from a world title shot? I agree that Cleverly is in a position where he won't want to risk losing, but come on, they could of done alot better than this in finding him an opponent that is more likely to get Nathan ready for his shot at a world title.

[Asterix]

Technically, it IS a World title shot: http://boxrec.com/title_search.php?titl ... &SUBMIT=Go :(

[ourkid1984]

I can't see that he has lost to anyone really bad or in a really bad style. I mean he took Erdei to points and since then only lost narrowly to another unbeaten (at the time). It's not the best fight but far from worse.

Saying that it will be bad if it ends up being for the full title....

[bad mamma jamma]

I don't- I think if it becomes a war of attrition then Tony will be neglecting the things that make him better then a run of the mill banger.

he forgot them against ajasafe, went looking for the single shot, if he does that against ovill it will be a long night - agreed tho, if he uses his head, listens to the corner, he could make it easier than i expect

[SweetLikeSugar]

p.s apart from the fact i will have her with me so no going to the grafton to pull a top heavy beauty

You woudn't find such a girl in The Grafton anyway, mate. Unless your idea of a top heavy beauty is a 58 year old, foul-mouthed bird who wears leopard-skin leggins and drinks pints of John Smith's bitter. There's lots of them in there.

[jBacca]

p.s apart from the fact i will have her with me so no going to the grafton to pull a top heavy beauty

You woudn't find such a girl in The Grafton anyway, mate. Unless your idea of a top heavy beauty is a 58 year old, foul-mouthed bird who wears leopard-skin leggins and drinks pints of John Smith's bitter. There's lots of them in there.

Just how they should be.

[The Law]

If McKenzie was a southpaw he would have had a chance because Bomber still has a lot to learn in regards to facing southpaws (as illustrated in the Ajisafe fight).

I expect Bomber to win by stoppage. Bomber handles orthodox domestic level opponents easily.

[StevenB]

They wouldn't put Clev in with McKenzie...Ovill can punch after all

[crusader]

Lakatos may have been in with class opponents, but it was some time ago. At least Mckenzie has some current form about him, and personally you'd expect Mckenzie to do a number on Lakatos.

It was two years ago that Lakatos pushed Uzelkov to the limit....not exactly ages ago. Lakatos has been in with some of the best at 175: Erdei, Garay, Uzelkov, Michalczewski, etc. and he has been competitive with them all. He has never been dominated, so I'm not sure what your logic is for expecting Mckenzie to do a number on him. I think you need to realize that Mckenzie's wins have all come over domestic oposition. Bolye, 41 year old Dunstan, etc..and it was only a year or so ago he was losing to the likes of Ajisafe. Lakatos has proven his durabilty and toughness at a higher level. If he could fight close bouts with the best at 175, I don't think he would struggle greatly with British domestic fighters.

[Bomber 1]

excellent match up i have never been to a big fight night are there any tickets left if so what sort of money will i need to spend to get a decent seat (without taking the pee though) i recently went to thailand with my mates for 2 weeks and as a sweetner i said id take my women away for a weekend when i got back so here it is bellew is one of the few fighters id pay to watch live and i love liverpool so jobs a goodun

p.s apart from the fact i will have her with me so no going to the grafton to pull a top heavy beauty

I have good seats available for £50 mate. Pm me if you wanna sort em out big man.. It's gonna be a great night and Liverpool has a great night life too. I'll suggest a few quiet places as your with the mrs

[wadey]

Lakatos may have been in with class opponents, but it was some time ago. At least Mckenzie has some current form about him, and personally you'd expect Mckenzie to do a number on Lakatos.

It was two years ago that Lakatos pushed Uzelkov to the limit....not exactly ages ago. Lakatos has been in with some of the best at 175: Erdei, Garay, Uzelkov, Michalczewski, etc. and he has been competitive with them all. He has never been dominated, so I'm not sure what your logic is for expecting Mckenzie to do a number on him. I think you need to realize that Mckenzie's wins have all come over domestic oposition. Bolye, 41 year old Dunstan, etc..and it was only a year or so ago he was losing to the likes of Ajisafe. Lakatos has proven his durabilty and toughness at a higher level. If he could fight close bouts with the best at 175, I don't think he would struggle greatly with British domestic fighters.

Yeah and Danny Williams has been in with some of the best heavyweights. Lakatos has a ranking of 71, and he's last 2 opponents and the ones prior to Uzelkov, have been pathetic. He is also in his late 30's. My arguement is that I just feel they could of done alot better with his opponent, thats all. I also know lot's of people have the same view.

[Tommy Gunn13]

Good fight this,i expect Mckenzie to come out swinging,which will be his downfall..Bomber early ko