In an exclusive interview with Safest Casino Sites, Tony Bellew says Connor Benn and Eubank Jr will fight soon and could sell out Wembley Stadium. He also believes Ben Whittaker didn’t fancy continuing against Liam Cameron and a rematch is needed asap…
The ‘Bomber’ also speaks out on how he floored Carl Froch in sparring sessions and much more.
Q: Let’s start with Ben Whittaker? A weird performance from him really. A bit disappointing.
Tony Bellew: “It was a strange one. I thought he started really well. Ben Whittaker against Liam Cameron. But Liam Cameron absorbed everything in those first couple of rounds and then I’m not going to lie, it looked like it’d only be going one way. I mean, I don’t know how true it is about all this, the trainer said this in the corner… I mean, that’s hearsay in my opinion. Speculation and a lot of nonsense can get put out there when someone thinks someone doesn’t fancy it. But from an outsider looking in, from what I’ve seen on the screen, the fight was only going one way and he (Whittaker) didn’t fancy it. So, I think it’s too early in the day to say he quit. I don’t think we can be using these kind of phrases or words. But it just didn’t look to be going his way. And it’s one of those things really. It’s unfortunate. Listen, it was a nasty, nasty fall away, he looked like he landed on his head. I didn’t quite get the leg injury thing. I was worried about his neck at first. But then when he said that it was his leg, I thought well nothing really happened to his leg. I don’t know. I didn’t experience the fall, so I don’t really want to do any harm to his credibility, but it’s not a good look. At this stage of your career, you want to get out, you want to fight, you want to finish your opponent, but it wasn’t going his way.” Do you think he underestimated his opponent? “Maybe. I mean, listen, I do think Ben Whittaker is better than Liam Cameron. There’s no point in dressing him up in any other way. I think he’s a better skilled fighter. I think he’s got more to his game, more skills, more strings to his bow. Technically I think he’s better. I think he’s quicker. I think he’s stronger. But, for whatever reason, he just looked flat after three rounds.” We’re going to have to see a rematch now, surely, aren’t we? “Ultimately, yes and both fighters will benefit massively from it. So, it’ll be one I look forward to seeing in the future.“
Q: Let’s talk about Eddie Hearn. He was furious, wasn’t he? With one of the judges, the judge that gave Beterbiev the win by 116-112.
Tony Bellew: “I found that a bit disturbing to be honest. I mean I commentated on it. I commented on it the minute it happened. So as soon as I heard that card get read, I was like I don’t care who this is for, it’s a disgrace of a card. It was a really close fight. I thought Bivol had done enough. I couldn’t complain when Beterbiev had got it. The only thing I can complain about is that 116-112 card, and I said it way before Eddie even brought it up. I just thought, there’s not a chance either of them fighters had only won four rounds. And I don’t care how close some of the rounds are, or I know what people will say, that there’s just no way one of them fighters won eight rounds.” Beterbiev was busier, he threw much more punches but didn’t necessarily land more.. “I thought Bivol landed the cleaner of the two. I thought he threw combinations and punches far better. I thought his technical ability was fantastic on the night. I just feel Beterbiev was obviously the stronger puncher. He punched harder on the night. He looked to have hit Bivol a couple of times. But ultimately, I’m not going to lie, I thought Bivol stunned Beterbiev a couple of times also. I just thought it was a brilliant fight. Very evenly matched. There’s a reason why it’s been the most exciting fight in boxing that we’ve wanted for so many years. And it lived up to all expectations. So fair play to them. I get why Eddie’s mad. Listen, it’s Eddie’s fighter who’s lost. I think if it was Bivol would have got it 116-112, then you wouldn’t have heard a peep out of Eddie. But ultimately, he’s protecting this fight and that’s his job. Dmitry Bivol is a matchroom fighter and Eddie, that’s what he’s put out there to do to protect his fighters.” So now, rematch or Canelo next for Beterbiev? “I don’t think it’ll be Canelo vs Beterbiev. I’d be amazed if that was the case. I wouldn’t mind seeing Beterbiev and Jai Opetaia. I know Jai is interested in the fight, but I think you’ve got to go back. They’ve (Beterbiev vs Bivol 2) got to do that again. I think they’ll both be up for it. I don’t know if that’s took a fair bit out of both. I mean, it’s amazing to think that a 39-year-old Beterbiev gets stronger as fights go on. It’s unbelievable. Levels of sacrifice, dedication, you can’t knock him. But it’s unreal. It’s unheard of in boxing.“
Q: Frazer Clarke and Fabio Wardley, now a lot of people found it very hard to pick a winner, but it was over before a lot of people expected..
Tony Bellew: “My tip was Fabio Wardley previously and purely because they’re very, very evenly matched as in boxing terms and ability. But Fabio has that dynamite in his hands. Frazer is possibly the better boxer than Fabio technically. He’s got an awful lot more amateur pedigree and experience. But ultimately the power of things lied with Fabio Wardley and with them little gloves on. It was a difficult one to watch to be fair because they’re both lovely lads, I think the world of both of them. Good boys, good fighters, wear their heart on the sleeve both of them. So it was hard to watch Big Frazer (Clarke) go down like that but, this is heavyweight boxing.“ What next for Fabio you think? Where does he go from here? “For Fabio, I’ve heard a few names banded up, the likes of Otto Wallen, people like that, I don’t know if someone like Fabio Wardley would, Joe Joyce be an option? Would Derek Chisora be an option? I mean he’s definitely not ready for world level because the world level in the heavyweight division is, it’s not very deep but it’s very dangerous. So there is a few bad guys. He’s not at the level of an Anthony Joshua, you know a Tyson Fury, a Daniel Dubois. But those gatekeeper guys we’re talking about, your Jermaine Franklin’s, your Otto Wallin’s. These guys will test you and push you to the next level. We’ll see. But, I’m not sure, you know, Jermaine Franklin’s a really hard fight. Jermaine Franklin knows how to survive. He knows his way around the boxing ring. No one’s just going to blow Jermaine Franklin away. Dillian White, that’s another really dangerous option. Dillian’s game is his life. That’s not going to happen for Fabio, because Dillian’s his manager. So, that’s not going to happen. So yeah, it’s that kind of level you’re looking to. You know, the gatekeeper level. The guys who fall short, but a European level guy for him. I think, you know, he’s a British Combat Champion. Go and fight for the European title. I don’t see why people don’t want to go down that route more and more because that’s the traditional, that’s the classic route the great fighters have chosen over the years. So, I wouldn’t knock a European title fight for Big Wardley.“
Q: We saw Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr facing off didn’t we, I think Conor Benn pulled up on him, Eubank Jr, he seems quite angry at Conor Benn though, didn’t he?
Tony Bellew: “There’s been an awful lot of personal stuff going between them too, and Conor’s released it, he (Eubank Jr) was blackmailing him. So he said that in the press, it’s out there now. Him claiming that he blackmailed him to make the fight go ahead. It’s very, very personal between them two. I think it’s even more personal than their fathers! You start talking about people blackmailing you and stuff, it’s a wild accusation, but he said it, and it’s out there now. And I don’t put Conor Benn down as the kind that’s telling lies. I think he (Eubank) just goes quiet. When you say something bad about him, he just goes quiet. He lets it die down. He doesn’t really respond much. But he performed well the other night. I think he was a really good performer. You can’t knock him. He looked powerful. He looked strong. He’s not the biggest of middleweights. But he’s bigger than Conor Benn.” Do you think we’ll see them get in the ring next year, potentially? “It’s coming. It’s going to happen. It’s the biggest fight in Britain bar AJ and Fury. Massive. For Britain, anyway.” Sell out Wembley, do you reckon? “Yeah.” O2 easily, surely. “I mean, it would sell out Wembley as well. I mean, the rivalry and the grudge between them two, it’s proper, proper personal.”
Q: AJ, you spoke of him there, AJ Dubois rematch reportedly being scheduled for February 22nd. What will AJ’s mentality be in that camp? Obviously last time didn’t go to plan, but this time he’ll have to come up with a different game plan, I suppose.
Tony Bellew: “Do you know what? He has all the ability and all the tools. It’s just on him.” Psychologically though, now he got knocked out. So, he’s never been knocked out before. “He got stopped, I mean this is heavyweight boxing. He got stopped against Andy Ruiz, that was exhaustion. This one, he’s down face first on the floor, but ultimately the most important thing we can take from that fight is he still wants to carry on. It’s not like he’s standing in a corner saying, I’m not sure if I feel OK. He was up still, even after Daniel Dubois has rocked his world, hit him with the kitchen sink. He still wants to carry on fighting. So you can’t question his determination, you can’t question his ethos, his workmanship. He wants to just fight, and you can’t knock him. If you go straight back in with Daniel Dubois, It’s the biggest fight of his life. Huge fight.“
Q: Do you think Dubois will train as ferociously for the rematch? Or is there a chance he will take his foot off the gas if he thinks he’s got AJ’s number?
Tony Bellew: “He’ll have to, he’ll have to. I mean, you’re not going to let it slip when you’re in with someone like Josh. You know you’ve got to be on your A game. I’m just amazed at the stance Josh took and the advice he was being given. I’ve sung Ben Davison’s praises quite a few times, but the advice being given to him in the corner wasn’t great, was it?“
Q: Eddie Hearn says he will leave the arena after Katie Taylor’s fight rather than watch Mike Tyson take on Jake Paul. Would you do the same if you were there?
Tony Bellew: “I couldn’t watch that. I couldn’t watch that. I don’t want to see Mike Tyson. I mean, if someone could show me a crystal ball and said Mike Tyson’s going to knock Jake Paul clean I’m staying 100%. But you can’t give me that kind of guarantee and there will be nothing more sad to see than Mike Tyson getting pummeled.“
Q: Mike Tyson’s former trainer says the Jake Paul fight could be over in 30 seconds.
Tony Bellew: “Which coach? He has had a few hasn’t he? He’s had a number of coaches over the years. From Aaron Snow to Freddie Roach, there’s been so many over the years. Jeff Fennec was training him at one stage. There’s just been so many coaches. You just don’t know, but with Mike, I’d like to say the last thing you lose is your punch, but he’s a grandfather now. Yeah, he’s 58. It’s insane, he’s nearly 60 years old.“
Q: Mirror put out a story today naming you as 1 of the 5 replacement options for Mike Tyson next month, the other 4 being Sakio Bika, Roy Jones Jr, Mike Perry & Chael Sonnen…what do you make of that list of names?
Tony Bellew: “Listen everyone’s got a price, but he would never fight me, I would eat him alive. Oh my God, I can’t believe the Mirror have named me that!“
Q: If Paul beats Mike Tyson, who could he face next? Mayweather? Canelo?
Tony Bellew: “Just face a real boxer, that’s all. Yeah, that’s all we want. Just face a real boxer. I’ll tell you what, just come over to England, get a licence and try and win an English title. If you can win an English title or the British title, I’ll take my hat off to you. Come on, just win a title. Or go do it in the USA, do where you’re from. Win the US Cruiserweight title.” He wants to fight at the Olympics. “Oh, Jesus. Now they would hurt him. As soon as he steps in with anyone who has any kind of reasonable boxing experience he’s had it. He’s getting taken to school.“
Q: Froch said last month that you were the only sparring partner to put him on the canvas, he said “Bellew’s got a big, strong punch and he’s the only guy to ever drop me in sparring.” What was the story there? Was it just the one time you dropped him? Did you ever drop any other hall of famers during sparring sessions?
Tony Bellew: “He shouldn’t have said that but he has put it in his book. I used to always deny it. For years I denied it because I don’t believe in telling tales from sparring. I’ve dropped numerous world champions in sparring. I’ve got video footage of all of them and stuff like that, but it’s not for me to say. I’m grateful to Carl saying that and bigging me up like that, but it was just one punch in one sparring session. We’ve sparred hundreds of rounds together. Our sparring sessions were really good, really competitive, but Carl’s style was always suited perfectly to me. It’s just one of those style things. A few people have witnessed those sparring sessions over the years. Josh used to watch them. So we used to be there when Team GB needed to watch some of the sparring sessions, he’d see them. After the first sparring session happened, when I’d flattened Carl, the sessions then went behind closed doors. No one was allowed to watch them.”
Q: Last time with us you thought people comparing Dubois to Mike Tyson was nonsense, which ex-heavyweight do you think Dubois resembles?
Tony Bellew: “He is forging his own path, but if I was to compare him to anyone… He reminds me of Earnie Shavers. He’s a strong boy, a really strong, limited boy. His skill set is not great, but he’s so strong and backs himself. He just goes in for the kill. So, he’s a big, heavy, strong boy. That’s the best I can give you.“
Q: Do you think it’s too late for him to learn and improve that head movement and the foot movement and the footwork?
A: “He’s never going to be that slippery kind of fighter. He’s not like someone like AJ, who you can see he’s adapting his game and he’s changing his game and he’s making mistakes while he’s doing it because he doesn’t have that athletic ability to do that. He’s a really strong, fast, powerful athlete, Daniel is. AJ’s a fluid machine. Like I said in the build up, everything Daniel’s got that AJ’s a little bit better at, he just went in there with a different mindset. And the mind is 70 percent of the battle in boxing. That’s just, that’s all it was down to. So, I don’t know. For Daniel’s never going to change his style, his hands are always going to be up and he’s going to let his hands go. It’s not that he’s not going to fear nothing coming back, it’s that he can’t do anything about what’s coming at him. You can’t miss Daniel Dubois. You cannot miss him. So I give him all the credit in the world for the job he’s done, because he’s done it with a limited amount of ability. But don’t knock Daniel Dubois for how devastating he can be. Because he really can be devastating when he wants to.“
Q: What do you think AJ’s legacy will be? Do you think in 50 years time he’ll be talked about with the likes of George Foreman, Lennox Lewis?
Tony Bellew: “No, that’s a step too far. When you’re talking about greats like Lennox Lewis, he unified the division. He carried the division for such a long time. He was the face of boxing for a long time. The heavyweight champion, when he goes, you don’t realise what you’ve got till it’s gone and we didn’t realise how important Lennox was to the heavyweight landscape until the Klitschko brothers took over. He did great jobs on his nemesis in the likes of Ivander Holyfield and Mike Tyson. He never got a chance to get him with Riddick Bowe, but he defeated him in the Olympic Games. But as for Josh being mentioned with those names, listen, I think he will win a version of the heavyweight title again. I do think he will become a three time heavyweight champion of the world but to be spoken of with the names that we’ve just mentioned, that’s a long way off. He took boxing to a stadium sport and he should be given a lot of respect for that.“
Q: Are there any fights from the Riyadh season card we’ve missed? Skye Nicholson.
Tony Bellew: “Skye Nicholson, I thought won out of canter. It was easy for her. Once she got the distance from round two onwards, it was an easy night’s work. She was very, very good technically. I’m going to give Chris Eubank Jr. his flowers, he did well. That guy had been out of the ring for a number of years. It was a hype building exercise. It worked absolutely perfectly. Kamil Szeremeta just looked like he was lost in the lights. He looked like a rabbit in the headlights. He just didn’t know where the shots were coming from. Dropped from numerous body shots. Tried to be as brave as he could and get up. But was in no fit state to continue. I’m trying to think of what else on that bill.“
Q: What next for Eubank though? If the Conor Benn fight isn’t going to happen in the near future?
Tony Bellew: “I think it happens next, you would think that would be the next fight. I can’t not see it. When it’s drummed up that much and it’s in your face. As soon as I saw Conor get in the ring, I knew that was his next fight. And as you look at Chris Eubanks social media posts, he wrote ‘I’ve found my next opponent.’ And it’s a picture of Conor. So I think it all just needs ironing out sort of properly.”
