Bellew is just a very emotional person. What he says in the build up isn't just hype, I think he's getting himself psyched up for what could be a very tough fight. That's what boxers have to do sometimes, they can't prepare themselves for a cautious, tactical scrap, they have to mentally get themselves ready for a hard fight. His comments before, about being willing to die in the ring etc., aren't bull****, they're just the thoughts of someone who is preparing themselves for a tough fight. What happened after the bout, again, is explainable considering Bellew's character. He's fiery and passionate, similar to Brandon Rios later in the night. He was gutted he hadn't got the win and unlike other boxers, he wasn't able to keep that in. Rather than simply say "I'm disappointed I didn't win, I hope we fight again soon", he couldn't hide his disappointment and I can't criticise him for that. Bellew is an entertaining character, the type that boxing needs more of. I understand people might feel a bit short changed if they buy into his comments before a fight but really, I just see him as someone who wears his heart on his sleeve. I'm a big Bellew fan and that won't change because of a poor performance. I just hope he regroups, makes some changes and comes back better than ever the next time out.
I'm not giving excuses for anything, I'm just saying that's what he is like. If people don't like it, that's fair enough, but I think that's just Bellew's personality. He's an honest person and says what's on his mind whether people like it or not.
He used to slightly, there was somewhat of a mythical legend being created after the first Mckensie fight! When Mckensie knocked him down! and Bellew stood straight back up with this Psychotic look on his face, it was a cross between Hulk Hogan Hulking up, and a clinically proven psychopath. When Mckensie was saying.. "He was on something, because he has never seen nobody react to a punch like that"... That's when the legend of the Bomber was being created, this Hard Sadistic Scouser! bad man from the streets.
what about that elbow and punch after the bell? I used to be a fan but his conduct has made me realise he is just a ****. Speaking his mind? oh please when other brit fighters do that, they get criticised for trash talking.
diff'rent strokes for diff'rent folks. Michael Gomez used to wildly trash talk & loved nothing more than sticking his head into opponents faces, inside AND outside of the ring! He was a fan favourite who drew good crowds, & was loved on the forums. bellew does his Michael Gomez act, & gets hated for it! I dont get brit boxing fans sometimes! Thats not aimed at you personally SMS, its just a general observation of mine! Anyone else think Bellew tries to copy Gomez?
mate, before the fight there is absolutely nothing wrong with trash talk. I enjoy it as it makes the build up more entertaining. However his conduct during and post fight was atrocious. That interview was a man who is simply delusional and cannot admit his faults. I mean reading some news on him now and he claims to have won 9 rounds last night? He's ****ing off his head!
I cant really argue with any of that SMS my good man. I respect Bellew as a fighter, but I put in a post a year or so ago I think saying I was noticing a change in his personality & demeanour, & it wasnt a change for the better. Tony actually replied to me, I cant actually remember what he said, but he shouted me down & didnt listen to my warning that he was starting to disappear up his own arse, for want of a better phrase! Fast forward to the weekend, & we have him screaming at his own fans that he won the fight, when the ones that had stayed on were sitting in stunned silence. Mocking his opponent with all that Buddy said I won, & hes the best trainer since sliced bread nonsense, & no Ifilm post fight interview, he must have been in a royal huff! It was car crash TV from the scouser, he used to be a loveable rogue, now hes a worse diva than Jennifer Lopez!!! Im sure I seen Eddie Hearn carrying Tony back to his changing room cos he 'doesnt do stairs' PS to be fair to Tony though, I wouldnt have argued if he got the nod. It was close, & in front of your home crowd you expect to edge the close ones on the judges scorecards.
Wouldn't be surprised if Bellew got released from his contract. The man is a ****ing dick head and Eddie Hearn has a reputation to uphold. I don't see what he's bringing except a few extra ticket sales
I went to the fight the other night and it's fair to say bellew had a bad day at the office. If you look back at all fighters they have all had them at some point. People need to remember the bolonti fight a few months ago. Bolonti was ranked #5 going into that fight. Bellew fought with a nasty cut and was more or less punch perfect that night so he certainly belongs at this level at least. I know ovil Mackenzie is a different level but if you remember the rematch he learned from his mistakes in the first fight and won virtually every round in the re match so he clearly is intelligent enough and has the ability to be adaptive and learn from his mistakes. Who would have thought when bob ajisafe had him on the floor he would be on the brink of a second world title shot a couple of years later. Whether he would beat Dawson I don't know but I certainly think he's a much better fighter than the one that took cleverly all the way. With regards to Eddie Hearn releasing him, there is no chance. He sells out arenas on his own, gets the attention of non boxing fans. Like Chris eubank he might not be everyone's cup of tea but he gets people's attention and sells tickets. Nathan cleverly couldn't sell out an arena the size of the echo in his own town and he has been world champion for a while now With bellews weight, he's been a cruiser weight for years, I've seen him and spoke to him inbetwen fights and he looks after himself doesn't drink certainly doesn't balloon up so he certainly doesn't drain himself to make weight. As for his interview after the fight I know it wasn't his best piece of PR but people need to bear in mind he was fuming as he felt ripped off, then to have a camera shoved in your face minutes after hearing that devision, while sitting next to a man you have built yourself to hate over the last 10 weeks is bound to bring out a range of emotions. All I'm saying really is dont write him off as he has box office appeal, the bolonti fight showed he is a good boxer not just a bomber and he has shown over the last few years that he has the ability to adapt and reinvent himself as a boxer.
You can't play the "good bloke" card when you're trying to put the nut and elbow in to your opponent for no other reason that you're frustrated. You can't make out you're a good down-to-earth bloke when you complain that you didn't get a hometown decision. Tony might be a nice bloke in the real world, but he came across terribly on Saturday and to say it's because he's passionate just doesn't cut it. He was having a tantrum after acting like a fool in the build up to the fight. Why not just say, "I thought I won, but I wasn't able to perform how I wanted to. Issac's a really good fighter and I'm going to learn from this."
A foreign ref would have docked a point off him and he would have lost for certain. As it is he was saved from defeat by a home town draw.
You are right the undercard did sell a lot of tickets and It was a great card the other night, but if you look back at the cleverly fight bellew sold that fight out. Since the bellew fight nobody has taken any notice of cleverly.