BoxRec

From Boxing Scene: Hearn said

''Its a great domestic fight but its not a world title fight. But it is what it is. Honestly it's a British, Commowealth, or European title fight and no more. You have to ask how the hell can Tony Bellew get a world title fight. One minute he's fighting Bob Ajisafe, then getting put on his backside by Ovill McKenzie, the rematch was a joke because he ran all night and next he's fighting for the WBO Title''

http://www.BS.com/hearn-talks- ... ore--44121

He didn't 'run' from McKenzie, he used his loaf and boxed intelligently. He won the fight at a canter. Good for him, I know he got a lot of stick for the second fight but I thought he boxed perfectly, I haven't said it up till now but that was one of his better performances.

[quote="Fat Git"]He didn't 'run' from McKenzie, he used his loaf and boxed intelligently. He won the fight at a canter. Good for him, I know he got a lot of stick for the second fight but I thought he boxed perfectly, I haven't said it up till now but that was one of his better performances. :TU:[/quote]

But bellew is fighting for a world title!!! and he was put on the backfoot all night by a journeymen went good, and he acted like he had just won he ring belt when the fight was over, then said it was a master class??? if you calling running all night when your a so called huge puncher against a man who dean francis knocked out in a round you are not in the real world. this fight is good british fight! but not a world title fight just shows what a joke world title fights are becomeing.

Eddie is absolutely right.

Bomber was awful against McKenzie in the rematch, despite winning at a canter.

Cotto16 wrote:

Fat Git wrote:He didn't 'run' from McKenzie, he used his loaf and boxed intelligently. He won the fight at a canter. Good for him, I know he got a lot of stick for the second fight but I thought he boxed perfectly, I haven't said it up till now but that was one of his better performances.

But bellew is fighting for a world title!!! and he was put on the backfoot all night by a journeymen went good, and he acted like he had just won he ring belt when the fight was over, then said it was a master class??? if you calling running all night when your a so called huge puncher against a man who dean francis knocked out in a round you are not in the real world. this fight is good british fight! but not a world title fight just shows what a joke world title fights are becomeing.

Tony seems like a good guy and he posts on here, but that sometimes can cloud peoples opinions. Boxing is all about levels and although Cleverly is a 'world champion' he himself isn't light years ahead of Tony.

Tony probably doesnt deserve to be fighting for a world title and what hearn says is true he struggled with McKenzie who isnt european class. But on the other hand who has Nathan beat that is world class??

Eddies sentiments are right this is a very decent domestic clash but not a world title fight.

In my opinion Nathan is a class above Bellew and will beat him as nothing in his recent fights suggests otherwise.

Cotto16 wrote:

Fat Git wrote:He didn't 'run' from McKenzie, he used his loaf and boxed intelligently. He won the fight at a canter. Good for him, I know he got a lot of stick for the second fight but I thought he boxed perfectly, I haven't said it up till now but that was one of his better performances.

But bellew is fighting for a world title!!! and he was put on the backfoot all night by a journeymen went good, and he acted like he had just won he ring belt when the fight was over, then said it was a master class??? if you calling running all night when your a so called huge puncher against a man who dean francis knocked out in a round you are not in the real world. this fight is good british fight! but not a world title fight just shows what a joke world title fights are becomeing.

You can't crash bang all the time or else you end up getting knocked out like Stephen Smith - yes and I include going up against domestic operators like Ovill McKenzie. The Mckenzie who got stopped in a round by Francis has improved a lot since then? Four years ago that was.

Is Bellew ready for a world class operator such as Hopkins or Pascal or Dawson? No he isn't but he is ready for Cleverly - a good 50/50 fight in my opinion.

is paul mckloskey in the world top 10 ? and whos kell brook really beat ? i think all 3 deserve a crack, but its abit rich coming from ed.

King Geedorah wrote:He wasn't awful. Just cautious and boxing to a plan but he was boxing, still within range at the right times plus he landed well with his left.

x 2 -

also, I can't see how anyone could expect him to take chances against a banger when he knows he's got a world title fight round the corner.

Tony used his head, got 12 rounds under his belt by boxing rather than running in and getting dropped again. He probably knew back then that he had the Cleverly match next so used it as a way to sharpen up. Horses for courses, simple

It's not Bellew's fault Cleverly is 'World Champion'. It's a good fight, and would have been a good fight without the belt. I don't think anyone is claiming these two are the best in the world or anything.

LeedsLad wrote:Eddie is absolutely right.

Bomber was awful against McKenzie in the rematch, despite winning at a canter.

If Tony continues to run sorry i mean fight the way he did in the 2nd McKenzie fight he will bw laughed out of Liverpool

I'd like to stress that I'm a Bellew fan, and give him half a chance against Cleverly.

The ''half'' is mainly because of his weight troubles, which as much as he denies are the main reason why this fight is happening now as opposed to when Tony gets more seasoning, which he badly needs.

Let's be honest here - he's got three wins over lads that are basically journeymen, Velecky, Ajisafe and McKenzie.... and he's been thrown in against Cleverly. But Cleverly for me isn't world class at this stage, he's a young pup with some great attributes - lots of heart, a brilliant engine..... but the same Calzaghe flaw of eating right hands all night long and walking around with his beard in the air just asking to be sparked.

One thing I'd urge Tony to do is box - in a fistfight at this weight with those skinny pins he will come second, but I'm not sure Cleverly has the same ability to pursue an opponent the way he has proven in a battle, such as against Murat. If he fights like he did against Ovil in the rematch he can fornicate off, I'll never buy a ticket to watch him again.... it was absolutely awful, or at least that's the way it appeared ten rows back..... but he's certainly capable of upsetting Nathan if he gets it right on the night.

Win or lose, he needs to be up at 190lbs for the longevity of his career.... he'd carry those extra lbs very well indeed and can make a real impact at that weight. The trouble is that it's probably the least glamourous division in boxing

LeedsLad wrote:I'd like to stress that I'm a Bellew fan, and give him half a chance against Cleverly.

The ''half'' is mainly because of his weight troubles, which as much as he denies are the main reason why this fight is happening now as opposed to when Tony gets more seasoning, which he badly needs.

Let's be honest here - he's got three wins over lads that are basically journeymen, Velecky, Ajisafe and McKenzie.... and he's been thrown in against Cleverly. But Cleverly for me isn't world class at this stage, he's a young pup with some great attributes - lots of heart, a brilliant engine..... but the same Calzaghe flaw of eating right hands all night long and walking around with his beard in the air just asking to be sparked.

One thing I'd urge Tony to do is box - in a fistfight at this weight with those skinny pins he will come second, but I'm not sure Cleverly has the same ability to pursue an opponent the way he has proven in a battle, such as against Murat. If he fights like he did against Ovil in the rematch he can eff off, I'll never buy a ticket to watch him again.... it was absolutely awful, or at least that's the way it appeared ten rows back..... but he's certainly capable of upsetting Nathan if he gets it right on the night.

Win or lose, he needs to be up at 190lbs for the longevity of his career.... he'd carry those extra lbs very well indeed and can make a real impact at that weight. The trouble is that it's probably the least glamourous division in boxing

If he moves to 190 he should have no problem with longevity, as he'll already have moved back several years.

I just think that's his ideal weight..... the low 190's didn't do Cunningham any harm

I personally agree that Bellew hasn't earnt his shot yet, but I am not arguing one bit that he has. It is a great domestic fight and one I will be watching and chearing Tony on all the way.

Eddie should ask his father, he knows all about comfortable relationships with the WBO! And the IBO and WBF etc

Its a good domestic fight but no more!

King Geedorah wrote:He wasn't awful. Just cautious and boxing to a plan but he was boxing, still within range at the right times plus he landed well with his left.

He was in the second fight. But Warren at moment well up for putting his fighters against each other as its cheap alternative!

FW's boys have always fought each other in the past, either that or against a foreign no hoper, usually with options.
In the old days the winner of FW's round robin would win the WBU title.
It's an old trick so whatever happens the promoter comes with the champion and leaves with the champion.

Eddie's not far wrong, why wasn't he as vocal when Audley had a title shot though?

oh, that's right....

Have to agree in a way with Eddie, although i think this is an excellent domestic fight and i'm really looking forward to it. You can't really say that Bellew has fought anyone near world class to get a rating.

But saying that you've got Hopkins v Dawson on the same night, so which boxer holds the proper world title in your mind?

I don't play that much attention to the belts.

i think b-hop is the ring titlist

Its a domestic fight being paraded as a title fight, it wouldn't be happening if they where from different camps.

Cotto16 wrote:From Boxing Scene: Hearn said

''Its a great domestic fight but its not a world title fight. But it is what it is. Honestly it's a British, Commowealth, or European title fight and no more. You have to ask how the hell can Tony Bellew get a world title fight. One minute he's fighting Bob Ajisafe, then getting put on his backside by Ovill McKenzie, the rematch was a joke because he ran all night and next he's fighting for the WBO Title''

http://www.BS.com/hearn-talks- ... ore--44121

all true but eddie's dad used to put on fights like this for the WBO title in the '90s...

He's right, but it's not a real world title anyway, so why not ? I'm really looking forward to this, nothing like a good domestic grudge match. ( why Tris Dixon is moaning "why can't they just be friends" is beyond me ) 100 times better than Clev v some Pole we've never heard of.

I say it's not a real world title, because Clev didn't have to step up to real world level to win it, but that's not to say the winner can't turn it into a real world title, by making 2 0r 3 spectacular defences.