Tone Bellew vs Evander "The Real deal" Holyfield

No it’s just common sense, something you appear to lack.

 

If Qwai can give Hollyfield a tough fight I wouldnt of ruled out the possibility of Bellew of doing the same

 

Bellew would likely agree with this outcome. He classes Holyfield as greatest Cruiser ever.

 

At the point of retiring Bellew was the second biggest ticket seller/ppv fighter in British boxing behind Joshua, so yes he was at the forefront.

 

Holyfield fails a drug test and Bellew claims the win "I got in his head and made him feel insecure enough to turn to the juice, I win"

 

Bellew fought in 2 divisions, each time he stepped up to fight the top dog of each division he got iced. No shame in that but that's pretty much it for him, he never beat anyone World Class, not even anyone close to it.

 

Boxing in the UK has never been as commercially big as it is in this era, and with the fact at one point the other year we had something like 13 world champions at the same time, so I would say it has been a golden era.

 

It makes a golden generation because right now over the last few years, boxing is bigger than ever in the UK, there are more shows on, more attendees, more people watching it live.

I’m not here saying Bellew is an ATG. I’m saying he’s been great for the sport though. You can say he’s had the right dance partners and what not but he’s always played his part. Wrote off against Makabu, came back in fairytale circumstances. Wrote off against Haye, wiped the floor with him. Wrote off in the rematch, done it again. Then again huge numbers against Usyk. Sold out arena and decent PPV figures. You’ll say that’s down to Usyk it weren’t. I wonder what Usyk’s WBSS final PPV numbers were his fight before? Nowhere near.

 

You make some good and valid points @Scissors . I must admit I never wrote him against Makabu and thought that was a very beatable opponent, as he turned out to be. The first Haye fight I tuned into purely because I wanted to see if Haye actually had anything left in him because if he did I think he'd have KO'd Bellew and that is something I think most of us wanted to see. He didn't and Bellew eventually got a hobbling Haye out of there. I didn't even bother with the second fight. Me and my mates all watched the Usyk fight because we all knew we were going to see Bellew get smashed about and KO'd and I don't know a single person who didn't want to see that. To be fair to him he gave it a good go and didn't embarrass himself, it was lovely to see him get dropped and stopped like that though.

I never liked the guy, always thought he was a gobby Scouser and a very overrated boxer but he did well to sell himself so well to the British public. I think Creed boosted his profile somewhat, the timing was perfect. Had Cleverly not been stupid enough to go up to Cruiser I think Bellews career might have gone slightly differently, as it turns out he's a multi millionaire and Cleverly is posting things on Insta and getting 40 likes.

 

That’s fair enough mate. Nobody says you have to like him, I’m not his biggest fan myself! Just logic tells you the sheer numbers he was doing were massive.

15k + @ Goodison, twice sold out O2 and Manchester arena. Solid figures, regardless of dance partner. Never mind his PPV sales. Regardless of his unlikeable personality and lack of natural ability he’s been right up there leading British boxing. Nobody comes close to his numbers in the last 5 years bar Joshua.

 

Yeah he's done very well at selling himself, Hearn also did a very good job of swerving him away from the decent Cruisers, I think pretty much everyone in the WBSS that Usyk won would have beaten Bellew. By doing this Bellew was able to build himself more with the two Haye fights before the cash out with Usyk, his appeal was maximised, as was his bank balance. I wonder if he'll ever go though with what he hinted at, giving MMA a go?

 

UK boxing was the word I used as opposed to boxers. The popularity of boxing is bigger than ever in the country.
Also in October 2017 we had more world champions than anyone bar the USA. For such a small nation it’s brilliant. Here’s a thread from the time.

https://www.boxingforum24.com/threa...in-damm-good-nick.595854/page-2#post-18833427

 

There's far, far more arena fights of late.
Surely that proves some of @Scissors point

 

Haha sorry that came across wrong. I mean I'm not arguing because there is every chance you are more accurate than my prediction.

 

No not really mate, it's great to have a debate where every input is listened too without the BS that some come out with.