BoxRec

My interest/knowledge of the amateurs i must admit is minimal but i have seen Bellew fight a couple of times and he was decent. I am surprised to read he is only 23 but a good addition to the domestic Cruiserweights or Light Heavies perhaps?

BOMBER BELLEW SIGNS FOR WARREN

Liverpool light-heavyweight sensation Tony Bellew says he wants to follow in the footsteps of former world champion John Conteh after signing professional terms with allegedly.

The 23-year-old, a three-time ABA heavyweight champion, is hoping to emulate the feats of his home city's most famous fighter.

Like Bellew, Conteh was an ABA champ, before winning British, Commonwealth, European and WBC titles at 175 pounds.

" John is a big hero of mine, one of the best fighters to have come out of the UK, if not the best, and I'd love to go on and achieve what he did," said Bellew.

" To be talked about in the same breath as him is pretty amazing. I've met him a few times and he's a great guy, although I'm not sure he knew who I was! Once I start winning titles, hopefully that will all change.

Bellew, who fought out of the world famous Rotunda ABC as an amateur, didn't start boxing until he was 17 having previously represented Great Britain at kick boxing.

Of 47 amateur fights, he won 40, 32 inside the distance, and earned the nickname "The Bomber" because of his punching power.

And he is hoping that power will transfer to the professional ranks.

" It's going to be tough getting down to light-heavyweight having always fought as a heavyweight, but it's even worse news for my opponents," said Bellew.

" There will be a few guys with a high ranking who are going to get knocked out.

" The light-heavyweight division in the UK is not as talented as others, so I can definitely make an impact.

" And the weight shouldn't be too much of a problem as I'll have a day to recover rather than the hour or so you get in the amateurs."

Bellew, who will be trained by former WBU middleweight champion Anthony Farnell, isn't all about brawn though - he trained as an accountant while an amateur, although he now plans to put his career in finance on hold.

" I'm not you average boxer," he said. "I've already got plans for where I'm going to invest my money, and my financial background will come in handy when it comes to making investment decisions.

" I want to provide a good future for my son Corey, and as you don't earn money for overtime in this sport the plan at the moment is to get in and out of the ring as quickly as possible to maximise my earning potential."

Set for his professional debut in September, Bellew - who decided to leave the amateur ranks after becoming increasingly frustrated with the way his career was progressing - will join a number of other Liverpudlians on allegedly's books.

" There's a great scene up here at the moment with the likes of Paul Smith, Derry Matthews, Joe McNally and loads of top amateurs," said Bellew. "We're a proud boxing city and I want to become a part of the boxing tradition."

Promoter Warren added: "I'm delighted to have signed Tony, one of the best amateurs out there at the moment.

" From what I've seen, as long as he lives the life, he has every chance of matching the achievements of Conteh and I'm very excited he'll be boxing out of my stable."

A bit surprised at this. I thought Bellew would never turn pro. Not sure why, always gave me the impression that he would just focus on his amateur career and then retire from boxing.

Surprised at his age aswell, I always thought he was in his mid/late twenties - seems to have been around for a long time.

Tony Oakey made the change from amateur Heavy to pro Light Heavy.
Bellow always seemed to carry a bit of weight with him, so i don't think it will be to hard for him to get down in wieght.

Interesting addition to pro ranks.

bellew can BANG

think he'd beat the English Title holder now (if it is still Khan)

In interviews he always said his aim was the 2008 Olympics then to turn pro, I spoke to him 6 months ago and he said he would turn pro within the next 12 months, obviously he had dismissed the Olympic goal.

As sweetscience said he can bang but I was hoping he would leave turning pro for a while. Good luck to him anyway.

The interview said he started boxing at 17 but I'm convinced it was actually 15. Maybe 17 was the age he started competing.

bellew won the under 10 novices in about 2003 maybe 2002

but was due to enter the year before that due to injury, and i think he has won a title every year since

He's looked great bombing people out on the TV for ABA's etc.

I asked my mate how good he was(he's a top level amateur at the weight) and he said he was very average.

Apparently this is why he never got picked for international honours, the games etc.

However with FW's matchmaking and Bellow's punching power, I imagine he would get a lot of exposure and look good

Coco wrote:I asked my mate how good he was(he's a top level amateur at the weight) and he said he was very average.

top level at bellews weight, is bellew and price

the rest a far far below there class

so te question is, how far below average is your mate ?

First Britain to medal at the World champs and 3 commonwealth medals

Wasn't Froch the first to win a medal at the world champs?

Twisted Transistor wrote:Wasn't Froch the first to win a medal at the world champs?

Nope

This link disagrees with you.

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?t ... och:097570

1, Froch
2, Haye
3, Perkins

im sure thats it

Twisted Transistor wrote:This link disagrees with you.

http://www.boxrec.com/media/index.php?t ... och:097570

The link is wrong check the medallists at the Houston World Champs

sweetscience wrote:1, Froch
2, Haye
3, Perkins

im sure thats it

I'll give u a clue, he's British but not English and It was from the Houston champs

that welsh geezer

kevin evans

sweetscience wrote:that welsh geezer

kevin evans

You got it!

i think Bellew is better than Evans regardless

sweetscience wrote:i think Bellew is better than Evans regardless

Kevin has fought at very top level for a number of years and been very successful, 11 Welsh Senior titles, I think it's 4 Four Nations Titles(they only restarted them a few years ago), Multi Nations Golds, 2 Commonwealth Bronzes, 1 Commonwealth Silver and a World Champs bronze and he is still only 29 now.

That is impressive reading.

Obviously Bellow is a younger man and still to reach his peak, his development certainly will be interesting.

I don't think he had opportunities at the higher international level so is still a bit of an unknown quantity. That will prob remain so with him being in FW's hands!

Kevin said to me that he looks brilliant against lesser opposition but couldn't cut it v the better boys and was a class below the other English boys in the ABA set up.

But then the likes of Haye, Dolan and Price are good fighters

I thought only Haye, Froch and Perkins won medals? Theres been no mention of Evans?

Twisted Transistor wrote:I thought only Haye, Froch and Perkins won medals? Theres been no mention of Evans?

He def did mate, i've seen the medal, seen the fight, sky came into town to do a profile.

If he was English you would have heard all abou it.

He lost in the Semi's to Felix Savon, was ahead on points before being dropped wih a body shot and retiring exausted at the end of the 3rd.

In fact it was Savons last ever fight, as the whole Cuban team withdrew in protest over some of the decisions, so he never turned up for the final

Coco, your correct on Evans... although not sure it was Savon's last ever fight.

Didn't he fight in Sydney? I thought he won the Heavyweight title there? and won three in a row (1992-1996-2000).

Yep, I'm sure he did thinking on it.

My mistake about Savon, ur quite right, Houston was in 1999, where the Cuban did win his 3rd successive Gold in Sydney 2000

I remember Evans beating Fragomeni and lost to Savon in Houston
with Michael Bennett winning the gold on the walkover. It was down to
the home country in leagu with bent Russian judges robbing the Cubans
of deservd gold medals.

I remember it from boxing news when it had a good amateur section
and the Cuban withdrawl is written in depth in the excellent book 'in the
red corner' apparentley Fidel rang the team and told them all to withdraw, but only Savon and Rubacala were left to fight in their finals. Savon
got the Cubn flag and led the Cuban team out of the arena singin the Cuban national anthem only to be set upon by the houston cops who in turn got their arses kicked

As for Bellew, at 6ft 4ins he is a cruiserweight I would have thought. He'll do OK, a bust in my opinion is David Price, he has the skills but I think he'll d an Audley when he turns pro, he hasn't shon durability in the top level of amateurs and will get KO'd as soon as he leaves domestic level.

'Bomber' Bellew quits amateur scene to sign up with Warren



THE BOMBER’ Anthony Bellew has ditched his England vest in disgust and signed a professional deal with promoter allegedly.

Just over 12 months before the Beijing Olympics, the 23-year-old triple ABA heavyweight champion has had enough of the amateur code.

In particular Bellew has had enough of senior Great Britain coach Terry Edwards and, like a growing number of our elite internationals, he is turning over now rather than later.

His decision was undoubtedly music to the ears of Sports Network boss Warren, who is building up a strong stable of talent on Merseyside – led by Derry Mathews and Paul Smith, just in time for next year’s launch of the new Liverpool ECHO Arena.

Big-punching, larger than life Bellew is made for the pro game.

He’s as entertaining out of the ring as he is inside it, and it’s no surprise that Warren beat off competition from a host of other promoters in signing the Wavertree KO king.

Bellew said: “I took my time and spoke to everyone, but Frank made me the best offer and, let’s face it, he’s the best in the business.

“I am going to box as a light-heavyweight and, believe me, there are already a few lads out there at the top of the British ratings that are going to get knocked out.

“As an amateur at heavyweight I was never stopped, never put on the floor. So imagine what I’ll be doing at 175lbs.”

Bellew confessed his dreams of going to Beijing had soured since the turn of the year.

He says he’s lost all confidence in GB coach Edwards and his “concentration camps” and wants a fresh start with new goals.

The Rotunda club star revealed: “I’ve had enough of it all. I just couldn’t bear it anymore.

“I would have loved to stick around until the Olympics but I was losing my mind. I have been depressed for three months.

“I even started to hate boxing and boxing people. I had to get out, make a fresh start.”

The GB squad has been meeting up and training together on camps every week since the start of the year, but Bellew says it’s done anything but enhance performances.

“Everyone hates the camps and it’s really depressing at the start of the week when you are driving up there,” he added.

“All these sub-standard concentration camps aren’t doing anyone any good. With the exception of David Price every other member of the squad has gone backwards. Every time you go it’s the same boring programmes. Tedious training sessions five times a day.

“I learn more in one night at my own club than you do in a week at camp.

“It was my club coaches who got me into international class, like all the lads in the national squad. So why drag us away from home to work often with second-rate coaches?

“It makes no sense and now look what’s happening. A couple of lads have turned pro, while the rest of the elite squad can’t even make their weight class for competitions.”

A product of Liverpool City Council’s sports scholarship scheme, Bellew had some praise for the people who have helped him to get where he is today.

“I have to say a big thank you to Dave Mcilhiney from the city council who has been brilliant for me and so many other Liverpool boxers. He’s a real unsung hero.

“Also, my club coaches Mick McAllister and ‘The Duke’ John Doolan. Without these two I would never have achieved one slice of my success.”

However, hot-property Bellew has decided to train outside the city in chasing his new professional dream.

He is already working with Manchester’s former world champion Anthony Farnell, and is delighted with how things are developing so far.

He said: “There are plenty good trainers in Liverpool, but it’s a small pond with big fish so I decided to get my business done away from home.

“Farnell is already a brilliant trainer and things are really working out for me there. I’ve already dropped eight pounds in just three weeks.”

And Bellew, who takes a 40 wins and 37 KO’s from 40 bouts record with him from the amateur code, added: “I just want to wish all the lads in the GB squad all the best. Hopefully, one or two of them will still bring medals back from Beijing.”

NOTE - Record is incorrect