Bellew actually had the nerve to say he was going to ''do a Kovalev'' on Cleverly on one of the boring build-up shows Sky are doing. He really has got some unbelievable front.
It would be funny if after all the gobbing off Bellew has done, Cleverly dropped him in the first round causing Bellew to just gets on his bike and whimper his way to a boring UD loss.
Would be hilarious as ****. Cleverly can't punch, but Bellew doesn't have the best chin in the world either, and regularly gets hit square. Everyone talks about Bellews power at CW but what does the move to CW do to Clev's power? He *could* potentially drop him, still unlikely though.
Anybody else hear Johnny Nelson on talksport talking about the recent sparring between Fury and Cleverly? Bellew got battered by a "midget" his words not mine.
Haven't heard this talksport interview - what got said? Bellew doesn't do himself any favours in the media. If you actually listen to him, he's very honest but the way he delivers it and goes on.. and on.. and on... he over does it, gobbing off. He hadn't had that many fights when challenging for the world title, jumping from domestic to world level.. delivering a good performance in a close fight (which I do think Clev won). He comes across well when speaking as a pundit for Sky. Again, he stepped up and faced one of the dangerman of his division (alongside Kovalev) but came up short. That basically tells you he's not afraid of a challenge, jumping at a world title shot relatively early as a pro, going over to Canada to fight Stevenson who was wiping people out previously etc. Now what ruins that is the pre-fight antics or being bitter afterwards. Instead of being seen as a fighter willing to jump into the deep end but so far coming up short at world level... he was giving the 'willing to die speech', trying to stick the head on Stevenson, how he was going to smash the midget... to only then box on the back foot and really, go out on a bit of a wimper instead of "going out on his shield" like you'd expect from a guy spouting off so much in the lead up to that fight and previous (chilemba + clev). I understand some fighters have to generate 'hatred' or whatever to get themselves up for fights or for publicity reasons, but Bellew puts so many people off by over doing his talk and lack of backing it up. He's actually a decent fighter who can be proud of what he's done so far, but the way he comes across at times you'd think he's a multiple undefeated world champion. He probably doesn't give a flying **** what anyone thinks.. why should he either. As long as he's earning good money for him + his family and in big fights, he won't be arsed whether fans back him or not.
Cleverley and fury sparred before the kovalev fight. Prepared him unbelievably for taking his shots didn't it!! Lol Chris eubank is going to kill BJJ as well because he's smashed up froch, groves and degale in sparring haha (sarcasm)
He was on The Sports Bar about midnight the other night, talking about this and Huck, anyway in so many words said. Cleverly basically was going toe to toe with Fury, taking huge HW shots and just kept coming, his team were not happy with him for doing it but never went down and never quit, just kept coming. You'll have to forgive me for not producing a link and not quoting word for word. The way I took it was Bellew will be shocked if he thinks Cleverly is just going fall over. Cleverly is in tip top condition and much stronger at CW.
Sparring is what it is, big gloves, head gear we know it is not a fight but Cleverly's mental state seems very good, he is not frightened to exchange big shots and seems to hold a shot much better at this weight. Time will tell, I was only saying what Nelson said, I found it interesting. He might even repeat it on Ringside tonight.
This was the fight that made me stop rooting for Bellew, after all the talk he goes out with a whimper, if he'd gone out on his shield I would ave said enough least he gave it a go trying to back his mouth up
In fairness the LHW who battered him makes it into most pundits top 10 p4p after Sat night and is the 2nd most feared fighter on the planet Clevs gameplan was also completely wrong which contributed to the speed and manor in which he got battered Better game plan and he could have held out for a few more rounds :rofl
Kovalev had his Darnell Boone too. He just beat not only the oldest Hopkins but the oldest champion ever. So basically Bellew lost to the better fighter and even floored him. You could describe him losing to Cleverly as weight drained/didn't lose etc. As if Mayweather crushed Pac because he beat Marquez better etc.