BoxRec

David Coldwell, trainer for former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew (29-2-1, 19 KOs), is confident that his boxer will defeat Andre Ward (32-0, 16 KOs).

Bellew's promoter, Eddie Hearn ,spoke to Ward's management team of James Prince and Josh Dubin, and they advised him that there is serious interest in doing a fight against Bellew.

"I spoke to Andre Ward's team last night - James Prince and Josh Dubin - just talking about various things in boxing.," Hearn exclusively told Sky Sports.

"Andre Ward has got a big interest in fighting Tony Bellew. That was the first phone call I got after the Ward-Kovalev fight was Tony Bellew saying 'let me fight him. I'll bash him up.' We'll look at that fight."

Coldwell noticed that Kovalev was able to touch Ward with hard punches in both of their meets. He feels confident the heavier handed Bellew can do the same with much harsher reactions.

But that fight depends on the rematch negotiations with Haye - which is likely the most lucrative option for Bellew.

"Ward has piped up out of nowhere after the Sergey Kovalev win, saying he would come up to cruiser for a fight with Tony and, if the money is right and it makes sense, then we take it - but is it bigger than the Haye fight? If we can get that same money that Tony can get in his other options, then we fight Ward," Coldwell said to Sky Sports.

"Say what you want, Ward is getting hit these days and Kovalev was hurting him in there. People will say that Kovalev hits harder, but Tony has grown into cruiserweight and is a big, strong puncher at the weight - there is a big size difference there. Ward is fantastic, no doubt, but Bellew can beat him. We know it is a tough fight against one of the most skilful boxers, but we believe he is beatable."

Such a boring fight. Ward playing with Bellew for 12 rounds. I can see why the Bellew camp want it as he won't get too knocked out and will likely get a big pay day. I'd like to see Bellew fight Parker for the WBO heavyweight belt, big risk but big reward.

Is Tony Bellew actually delusional? No, or he'd be entering the tournament to prove he's the "best cruiserweight in the world". He wants cash, that's it.

This guy was 3rd on the AJ-Whyte undercard behind Eubank Jnr and Kevin Mitchell 18 months ago.

This is all your fault David. It's all your fault!

Bellew is not heavier handed than Kovalev.

Hopefully Haye gets the fight, can stay fit, and best this guy up

CaptainSpacerod wrote:Bellew is not heavier handed than Kovalev.

Yes he is, but maybe he doesn't hit harder.

I would've liked to see Bellew in the cruiser tournament

crusader wrote:I would've liked to see Bellew in the cruiser tournament

He says he is the best CW.. he could'be proved that via this tournament.. nd it's paying good..

If someone doesn't enter this tournament it's a major blow to their credibility as a top CW

Adonis Stephenson should challenge bellew at cruiserweight and Andre ward too. Andre will beat both.of them but makes sense imo.

Stephenson would bounce Bellew around the ring like a basketball again at CW, so would Kovalev. Ward would bamboozle him and stop him mid-late rounds.

Going against the grain a bit, I don't fancy Ward at cruiser. Unless he's allowed to reemploy his Son of Golota tactics, Bellew's big enough (at a genuine 180lb 6'2") to handle him in the clinches. Ward still wins it, but I think he'd have to be more wary than some of you do. It's not a demolition job. Bellew has a handy reach advantage if he's not fazed.

Coldwell's right for a change: Ward's less dangerous than a fit Haye, so he's the more attractive option if he can match the latter's offer. Which he won't. Although it might do decent numbers at MSG if Haye falls through.

People underestimate Ward so much it's criminal! This is Boomer ffs! Ward is also the coolest, most mentally strong fighter out there, Boomer's pre fight antics would literally be a waste of breath. It would do good cash over here, not in America, where Tony is completely unknown.

They kill me the way they talk if you actually break down what bellew has done at cruiserweight he beat cleverly in a stinking SD win in which cleverly was knackered as he ate his way to cruiser best masternack which was a decent win, makabu they keep going on about a decent puncher but a small cruiser and pretty sure he never fought outside Africa, Flores a fringe contender at best who looked like he came in loose out of shape and with 0 ambition and how he can claim the haye win saying he took his Best punches when we all saw a photo with him and an Achilles specialist the week of the fight is beyond me, fair enough you can say haye shouldn't have taken it but with previous injuries he would have taken a hammering by the public

crusader wrote:If someone doesn't enter this tournament it's a major blow to their credibility as a top CW

I don't know, Bute somehow managed to spin a decent debate about being the number 1 super middleweight without being in the super six and avoiding all the actual best super middleweights, there was a time when people were debating if he was better than Ward.

I think the example of Bute unraveling after the S6 means that steering clear of talent-filled tournaments looks worse these days. Also, because he was unbeaten against so-so opposition and had only struggled in one fight, I believe there was more uncertainty about his level than there is about the top cruisers who don't appear to be entering (Leb and Bellew come to mind). IMO that made it easier to engage in speculation about him being the real man of the division.

This tournament has more spots than the Super Six, the money is very good, political barriers seem inexistent or minor, and I think opting not to compete gives the look of someone who at this point isn't keen on dealing with that level of opposition.

Bellew has a good chance of beating anyone who ruptures their achilles.