Tony Bellew Makes Retirement Official

[Ruthless-RKO]

Today, he officially announced his retirement!

After a long and successful career it is with a heavy heart, that one of British boxing’s greatest talents is finally hanging up his gloves up for the final time.

"Thank you first and foremost for all the support I have had over the years and all the support I have been shown from the fans from the negative naysayers to the purest of fans I have got thank you very much but today I am announcing that I am officially retired. There will be no more fighting from me, the only things you will see me doing from here on in is trying to act sensible and being myself," Bellew said.

"I have had a fantastic career and have realised my dreams, and on the 29th May 2016 my wildest dream came true, I became WBC Cruiserweight champion of the world at Goodison Park, the dream loaction, the dream title, the dream ending a third round knockout of Ilunga Makabu. It has been a story, it has been a journey, a British, a Commonwealth, a European title also secured along the way and various journeys and stories that I have got to go over over the years so thank you for your support and guys I am officially retired. Goodbye."

When asked what kind of a purse could lure him back into the ring the Liverpudlian boxer categorically stated there wouldn’t be an amount big enough to tempt him back.

"Eddie gets 100 million together for me and offers me one more fight, what do I say? Wow, Wow, that is probably what I would say. Wow, wow and then walk into the missus and say Eddie has come on board with 100 million and she would probably hand me divorce papers. Money is good but money comes and goes, that is the best way of saying it."

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[rhino222]

good career anthony........thanks for the memories. you over achieved which is great, and over earnt which is even better.

[Ricky]

In true Bellew fashion he signs off with a load of utter tosh about £100m purse.

Not going to miss Bellew but he achieved alot for his talent level.

[Pukka Cheese]

Set his family up for life and will be telling the goodison park story till the day he dies.

Fair fornicating play to him.

[Stuarty]

Personally I won't miss him but all the best to him....

[lillywhite14]

Eddie Hearn’s biggest achievement so far

[Bleak]

Set his family up for life and will be telling the goodison park story till the day he dies.

Fair effing play to him.

Hopefully he won't blow his money
And he stays on track with life after
Boxing. Am not sure he will but hope he does

[ThereByTheGrace]

Great to see him go out with a bang

[Ruthless-RKO]

Personally I won't miss him but all the best to him....

Same.

[Flump]

Enjoyed Bellew's career, and he gets out with his marbles, a good few quid and a future. There are too many in this game who don't so fair play and good luck to him.

[Oiky]

Had a good career gave British boxing some comical moments and good fights, made the most of what he's got and earnt a decent amount of dough Fair play to him and good luck with whatever else he decides to do

[milpool]

I'll go against the grain here, I'll miss him. He was a character and you'd always get good value from him. I don't doubt that a lot of the shenanigans pre fight were cringeworthy pantomime stuff but I enjoyed it!

All the best to him and fair play on his career.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Boxing fans have been reacting in their droves:

Nuff respect to you! You had a great career @TonyBellew !

— Arv Mittoo (@foxmittoo) November 22, 2018

Thank you

— Chris Glover (@ChrisGlover28) November 22, 2018

Thanks for the good nights mate, even the bad ones… you’ve done us all proud

— Jay Clusky (@CluskyJames) November 22, 2018

All the best mate, a true character inside the ring and out. As a boxing fan it’s been fantastic watching you. Your brought really excitement back into the boxing world. Enjoy retirement and I look forward to seeing you as a pundit on sky.

— Ryan Mathew Adams (@ryanmathewadams) November 22, 2018

Massive Respect #warrior

— UkraineBoxingPRO (@UkraineAtamans) November 22, 2018

Well done. Congratulations and enjoy retirement.

— Ashley Theophane (@AshleyTheophane) November 22, 2018

[MF DOOM]

I covered Bellew's career since around the time of his professional debut and will miss him now he's retired. I know he divides opinion, but I always enjoyed talking to or being around him. I asked him if the retirement is a ruse to raise his price should he return and he was adament that this is it for him. Best of luck to him in whatever he does next. One of the few that retired from rather than being retired by boxing.

[REEVE]

Followed tonys career since the amatures when he was a heavyweight. Amazing career i take my hat off to him.

One of the tiny handful of british boxers who can retire on there ring earnings

[Steveh583]

I hate it on networking sites when I see people call him a bum. Bums don't win three ABA titles let alone a British Commonwealth European WBC silver and WBC strap. He's had a cracking career and and a good few quid. I never understood what all the hate was about. seems like a nice guy to me. Boxers seem to get a hard time if they believe in their own ability or have to talk themselves up in order to perform at their best nowadays. He also knows the game inside out so I would imagine I'll make a pretty good pundit

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

Derry going a bit overboard there..