Thoughts on Bellew after last night. Is he ready for the elite?

[Dunky McCafferty]

Originally Posted by Tony Bellew

All I said in Spanish was the word PAIN! I wanted him to come and have a fight not run all night like he did! I'm not weight drained at all! Weight drained people don't get up from knockdowns, weight drained people don't do 12 rounds and throw 800 punches, weight drained people don't eat on the day of weigh ins and weight drained people usually dry out which is something I refuse to do! What you see is what you get with me it's that simple..

I'll be back in a ring sooner than people think and I WILL win a world title in the end! I'm so determined and will do what needs doing! Time will tell! One thing is for sure, I'm only looking to fight guys that are gonna get me that world title shot..

Thanks to all on ESB for your support as always

aah right Tony, I did google it when I heard you mention it, but I wasnt sure I was spelling what you said right fair play for getting back & explaining, much appreciated Maybe I was being a bit over the top about your attitude, its just that you normally have a twinkle in your eye during the build up, loveable rouge style. It seemed to be missing a bit this time, you were all wild eyed seriousness & I was worrying that you were maybe getting a bit big-headed, what with all the star treatment you are receiving from SKY & hanging about with ole big head himself Carl Froch

Im not buying that you arent weight drained though!

You are a mentally strong fella with a winners mindset, & a fanatical trainer, that IMO is why you are getting away with dragging your body down so much, but its just my honest opinion that your pushing yourself too far. Honestly, my mate phoned me & said "Dunky, did you see Bellew at the weigh in? Hes looking drained" & I said, I agree, hes looking the most drained I have seen him" & thats the truth. IMO you werent even looking like yourself, you looked like you could pass for 15 years old IMO!

Then in the fight you didnt have your normal speed, & got an awful cut when the lad landed nothing more than a decent left hook which didnt even phase you. You could see that you were shocked to find the blood dripping, & shocked at the end when you saw the cut, & no wonder, but thats the cuts you get when you are dried out Tony!

Listen, Its just constructive criticism from me cos I genuinelly believe the weight making is affecting you slowly but surely, but its just my opinion.

[Dunky McCafferty]

Originally Posted by airdrie diamond

He's still more likeable than Scott Harrison is Dunky. No matter what he's done you've stood by him. Maybe being a bit harsh to Tony in that respect.

I hear you AD my good man.

I was only having a moan though cos Bellew normally has that twinkle in his eye cheeky chappie style in the build up, but I thought he was insulting the argie & threatening to execute him, just wasnt normal Bellew behaviour. Hes better than being the angry arrogant guy IMO.

Froch is the same, he seems more angry & arrogant nowadays also. If I was a school teacher & Froch & bellew were in the same class, I would ban Froch & Bellew hanging around together, & write on their report cards 'They are a bad influence on each other' the Froch one keeps telling other kids in the class that they will feel the wrath of the Cobra, while the Bellew lad threateningly whispers spanish insults into their ear at the same time

So mr & mrs Froch & Bellew, I have been left with no other option than to seat them at different tables at opposite ends of the class.

[Jack]

The weight seemed to affect Bellew a while ago but he looks a lot stronger now than he did a couple of years back. It's usually the other way around but maybe it was the change in trainers or something, but either way, I don't think Bellew is struggling with the weight at all right now. He looks healthy when training, he looks perfectly fine on the scales and on fight night, he's looking fitter than ever. I'm not sure why this drained argument continues despite everything saying the contrary.

I like things about Bellew that other people might consider to be negatives. Others might say he had a poor chin after the heavy McKenzie knockdowns but I think he showed a lot of character. When he boxed against McKenzie in the rematch, critics might say he ran but I thought he showed versatility and clear head. He goes to war with Cleverly and loses a close fight but I think that was a great learning experience for him, though it was a harsh experience. People may say he was boring against Miranda but for me, it showed a lot about his character to box for so long and then when he had his man, he stopped him. The Bolonti fight is another for the critics, who'd say Bellew was boring, but I thought he was smart and did what he had to do.

For a fighter with 20 fights, it's priceless for him to have gone through these things now. People can say it's a sign of weakness, and that may be true, but if he can overcome those weaknesses in the past, it's a good sign for the future. If he fights Dawson and gets knocked down, cut, hurts his hands or whatever, and he has to adjust, he's going to know exactly what to do. He's been through a fair few hard fights but look at him now. He's progressed continuously and he's now a much better fighter than he was when he fought Cleverly or when he was hurt against McKenzie or whatever.

Experience is key in boxing. You get hurt, knocked down, cut or whatever, but those things don't matter, the reaction to them is what matters and that's why I take Bellew's reaction as a good thing. He's only had 20 fights and yet he's faced plenty of adversity. If a boxer can improve those weaknesses in the way Bellew has, it's a great learning curve for them.

As for his future, I do think Bellew has potential to beat world champions. I don't think he hits the hardest, takes the best shot or has the most skill in the division, but he combines those three things well and you also have to consider than boxing is often decided by intangible qualities, which Bellew has in bucketloads. He has heart, ring smarts and toughness that Chad Dawson couldn't even dream of having.

[TIGEREDGE]

no he isnt ready for elite hes only had 19 fights so far. give him time

[Earl-hickey]

He's as ready as he'll ever be imo

perhaps he will rise to the occasion