Mr Bellew take a Bow !!!!

[binipop]

Very close but the right man won. That said, i didn't think bomber could box that well or had the engine to fight like that for 12 rounds, respect. Well done Nathan Cleverly.

[charlieb]

Brilliant performance, brilliant fight. Bellew's bonafide.

It has to be hard to move on when something that you've invested yourself in completely, doesn't go your way, but that's what Bellew needs to do.

This is probably the most important crossroads in Tony's career, he's put himself on the map with that showing, now's the time to keep that fire stoked.

All in good time though, he deserves a bit of R&R after that barney.

[tobyh5]

Everyone is saying Tony was clearly underrated......but perhaps Cleverly is overrated and Bellow exposed that to a degree.

However, regardless, it was a hugely entertaining scrap between two very tough, gritty and classy men who may BOTH be a notch below true world class. If we had more fights of that calibre, perhaps this sport would be enjoying a much higher profile.

Awe inspiring effort by both but I did feel this was more a case of one fighter not being as good as advertised than one being better.

[los2]

well done bomber....shown massive improvements.....great credit to his old amateur trainers whose names escape me...

[zero]

Everyone is saying Tony was clearly underrated......but perhaps Cleverly is overrated and Bellow exposed that to a degree.

However, regardless, it was a hugely entertaining scrap between two very tough, gritty and classy men who may BOTH be a notch below true world class. If we had more fights of that calibre, perhaps this sport would be enjoying a much higher profile.

Awe inspiring effort by both but I did feel this was more a case of one fighter not being as good as advertised than one being better.

I agree, Cleverly is below world class no matter what trinket he holds.

[Mensa07]

look lads i know there are a lot of Bellew fans on here but how anyone could have scored it a bellew victory is beyond me. Very close fight but Cleverly clearly won the last 2 round to take the fight

bellew had banked enough for me before the last two, to just pip it by 1 round.

[Mensa07]

Everyone is saying Tony was clearly underrated......but perhaps Cleverly is overrated and Bellow exposed that to a degree.

However, regardless, it was a hugely entertaining scrap between two very tough, gritty and classy men who may BOTH be a notch below true world class. If we had more fights of that calibre, perhaps this sport would be enjoying a much higher profile.

Awe inspiring effort by both but I did feel this was more a case of one fighter not being as good as advertised than one being better.

totally agree.

[Bob & Weave]

Ive got a man crush on bellew, thought he was great, those double and sometimes tripple jabs were winning him the fight until he tired.

It was a draw on my card.

[ValleysGav]

Everyone is saying Tony was clearly underrated......but perhaps Cleverly is overrated and Bellow exposed that to a degree.

However, regardless, it was a hugely entertaining scrap between two very tough, gritty and classy men who may BOTH be a notch below true world class. If we had more fights of that calibre, perhaps this sport would be enjoying a much higher profile.

Awe inspiring effort by both but I did feel this was more a case of one fighter not being as good as advertised than one being better.

I agree, Cleverly is below world class no matter what trinket he holds.

nice one....... and STILL WBO light-heavyweight Champion of the World from Cefn Fforest.
well done Clev! onwards and upwards!

[ejruane]

A great contest and I really enjoyed the 'chess of it'. Was really hoping for a Bellew win, but my support rarely blinds me to what is happening and I can't claim I thought he won. In the end, I had to give it to Cleverly - definitely by a round, possibly two and for the same reasons as Tony Bellew himself gave (ie: his opponent threw more). Actually I found many of the rounds difficult to score. Some rounds Bellew threw the harder shots but Cleverly threw more. Some rounds it was the other way round. At the end I thought home advantage might see the judges going for the 'safety' of a draw, but as much as I wanted a win for Bellew, I'm glad that didn't happen. I despise fighters being denied the right result by weak/bent judging and I also want fighters to be able to come to Liverpool and be sure they'll get a fair crack. As for 'Mr Bellew', I was a fan before and a bigger fan after. I was very impressed by his performance. I've always felt he's the kind of fighter who will raise his game (or not) depending on his opponent and as we saw, Cleverly is/was a VERY good opponent. I wish both fighters all the very best for the future, would LOVE to see them go at it again.

[junior pepa seed]

well done son, had it very close on the score cards was no way a loss by more than 2 rounds..That a side you did your self proud and showed what level of class you are..Nothing to say Sorry about at all.

[keithmoonhangover]

I had it a draw. Well done Bomber mate. Work your way back up and lets have a rematch in 18 months.

[stevek3lly]

What a fight last night was and I think you will all agree that opinions changed about both guys after the fight and after the interview at the end. I was a Bomber fan and was wavering about Clev, but maybe last night he was that bit better and I will be chearing him on against whoever he fights next. As for Bomber, those who thought he was out of his depth will have seen he is a great boxer with an amazing jab and I am sure he surprised a lot of people there.

Well done to both guys you were both a credit to the sport (still can't stand Vince Clev though. The guy is a tool), Clev to move on to Shumenov next and Bomber to go for the Euro belt and spend next 12 months getting back to world level.

[Bomber 1]

I said I would come back on here and I'm here, I wanna say thank you to all of you, i appreciate it so much, it was a hard fight, I honestly feel I won 6 rounds but with him bring champion I think I needed 8, I respect him so much and he's a good fighter and a good guy, I gave it everything in there, I just switched off at times but that's down to his great speed too!

I'm truly devastated to lose but once again I give credit, he's a good fighter!

Thank you everyone and I'll be back from this setback xx

[keithmoonhangover]

I said I would come back on here and I'm here, I wanna say thank you to all of you, i appreciate it so much, it was a hard fight, I honestly feel I won 6 rounds but with him bring champion I think I needed 8, I respect him so much and he's a good fighter and a good guy, I gave it everything in there, I just switched off at times but that's down to his great speed too!

I'm truly devastated to lose but once again I give credit, he's a good fighter!

Thank you everyone and I'll be back from this setback xx

The forum has a fighter and gentleman we can be trully proud of. Well done mate.

[binipop]

I think i have a little lump in my throat, you're a class act Bomber

[levi billups]

Well done to both lads on a great performance. I would love to see it again. I didnt think Tony would be up to this but am delighted to have been proven wrong. I hope you get another opportunity soon, your performance in the ring and sportsmanship outside the ring have won you a lot of new fans.

[Dioufy]

I felt for Bomber when the guys asked Clev does he have an eye on BHOP/Dawson. He'd have loved to have been the winner and to have been asked that question. No shame, Tony. You did yourself proud. I thought you'd be blown away, but I had you up with 2 rounds left. Clev just proved himself a touch too good.

[Mensa07]

I felt for Bomber when the guys asked Clev does he have an eye on BHOP/Dawson. He'd have loved to have been the winner and to have been asked that question. No shame, Tony. You did yourself proud. I thought you'd be blown away, but I had you up with 2 rounds left. Clev just proved himself a touch too good.

Yeah that was a touch insensitive.

[keithmoonhangover]

I felt for Bomber when the guys asked Clev does he have an eye on BHOP/Dawson. He'd have loved to have been the winner and to have been asked that question. No shame, Tony. You did yourself proud. I thought you'd be blown away, but I had you up with 2 rounds left. Clev just proved himself a touch too good.

Yeah that was a touch insensitive.

I don't think anyone can begrudge Cleverley a big fight after his performance last night. If you conduct an interview with both, then the future is bound to come up.

I think they both will have won some new fans last night and I personally can't wait to see both of them fight again - and Degale also.,

[matko]

Great fight think Tony showed he needs great fights to get up for and it brings the best out in him, sad to see him upset but just shows how much fighters put in and how much it means to them but there was no loser there Tony and your time wil come, you learn so much from a loss and will make you an even better fighter

[revporl]

What a fight and despite some pretty unsavioury stuff said in the build up, a wonderful display of sportsmanship by both of them. FTR I had Clev by 2 but it was very very hard to score.

and as an aside.... no adverts on the coverage, now nice was that? Not as professional a presentation as Sky manage, but pretty good and I'm sure it'll get better and... no adverts! Top.

[Chambers2]

Excellent effort Tony, that performance should open more doors.

Respect for posting so soon

[rhino222]

Superb fight thought Cleverly just nicked it by 1 winning the last 2 rounds. Class at the end and in the interview from both fighters. Both can learn a lot and move on from this.

that is exactly how i saw it, i had bomber one up going into the 11th then clev did enough in the last 2 to deserve a close victors.

big up to both fellas, a credit to the sport, but clevs dad does seem a complete knob jockey!!

[jBacca]

Such a proud scouser this morning. Well done Bomber, well done Clev too.