This week, ex-world champion Tony Bellew sat down with Owen Fulda from Card Player to speak about how luck and superstitions helped his Boxing profession.
Bellew doesn’t maintain his playing cards near his chest. He opens up about how skilled Boxing analysts all through his profession obtained their predictions fallacious and the way being an underdog motivated the person from Merseyside.
Owen Fulda: I wished to ask you about superstitions. Did you might have any throughout your profession, or different stuff you did earlier than the match?
Tony Bellew: I’d at all times put the left glove on first as a result of in my tiny little thoughts and ideas I used to be going to hit him with the left hand first. So I’d wrap the left hand fist then put the left glove on first. Left boots on first. Always left foot first. I simply assume your left hand is crucial hand for an orthodox fighter. The lead hand is at all times crucial. It units up all the things on offense and protection. It’s simply big. For me the jab is the best weapon in boxing.
Owen Fulda: Did you ever pay a lot consideration to boxing analysts predicting the end result of your fights throughout your profession?
Tony Bellew: No. Because they’d normally decide in opposition to me. So no, probably not. It’s background noise. You would hear it within the build-up to huge fights. You would at all times hear folks’s opinions. It’s normally a member of your crew who lets you realize and can say, ‘Oh, did you hear what this guy said? Did you hear what that guy said? Did you hear what he predicted?’
Whether you select to let that have an effect on you or whether or not you select to let the noise within the room get to you, then that’s as much as you. Each particular person is completely different. For me, I’ve fought my life on proving folks fallacious, and it was no completely different with this.
Owen Fulda: Did you get pleasure from being the underdog?
Tony Bellew: It simply motivated me. In life, usually, folks put me down and I’m used to it. And the place I come from, you’re always down. So, you realize, you’ve obtained to battle in opposition to one thing day by day. So whether or not I used to be combating to show folks fallacious. Whether I used to be combating in opposition to different folks’s opinions, I’m at all times combating in opposition to one thing. I feel when all the things’s going for you, it’s at that stage then the place you must fear a bit of bit. You know, you want your detractors; you want your haters or no matter you wish to name them.
They assist encourage you for those who’ve obtained individuals who don’t such as you, and obtained individuals who don’t like what you’re doing. Then you realize, you’re going to search out, more often than not, you’re doing one thing proper. Because folks don’t like success, that’s only a chilly, laborious truth. People don’t like success. I feel your success lets folks know what they might have been and may have been had they put the work in such as you did. They utilized themselves. Other folks’s success targets different lesser folks’s inadequacies.
Whereas, for me, somebody like me, I used to be at all times striving. I didn’t care what anybody else was doing. You know what, you’re good for you. I’m glad for you, however I’m doing what I’m doing. And no matter I’m doing, that’s all I’m centered on. That’s all I cared about. I didn’t have time to concentrate on anybody else.
Bellew additionally continued with the second a part of the interview to talk about the way forward for Joe Joyce’s profession. Also, explaining why he thinks the British Boxing Board of Control wants a revamp after “harsh” remedy of Chris Eubank Jr.
Owen Fulda: Someone that had success on the weekend, David Adeleye, however what did you make of the stoppage and the way in which that it materialized?
Tony Bellew: I believed it was an honest battle. I believed it was effervescent up. I believed TKV was getting stronger because the rounds went on, however I believed David Adeleye at all times seemed just like the puncher within the battle. Punching on the break and stuff like that. It’s fallacious. And when the referee says break. He’s supposed to interrupt, however the first rule all of us study in skilled boxing is kind of easy. Defend your self always. At all occasions. Until there’s a referee in between you, that’s the one time, and even then I’d bear in mind. Your eyes ought to by no means go away your opponent.
There have been a few incidents on the weekend. There was the one the place he knocks the hand away and the boys open to a shot then. That’s been occurring for many years in boxing. Referees unencumber fighters’ fingers at sure occasions. So, this punching on the break is nothing new. We’re going over previous floor, however I feel for David Adeleye, I feel it’s type of a lesson realized. Because I feel he’ll have felt the identical was performed to him by Fabio Wardley a few years again.
I’m not saying anybody’s proper or fallacious; it’s simply, it’s fairly easy. Just pay attention and cling to the principles. Protect your self always. And you received’t go far fallacious. So TKV, with out sounding too harsh, has most likely solely obtained himself in charge. He’s fighter, you realize, he’s a giant sturdy boy. But a bit of bit naive and a bit of bit inexperienced.
Owen Fulda: It’s gone full circle now. David Adeleye’s obtained Fabio Wardley’s British Heavyweight Championship, which Fabio Wardley vacated.
Tony Bellew: He has, however I simply assume the water’s began to deepen now. I feel we’ve seen that within the Fabio Wardley battle. I’m unsure what David Adeleye’s degree is, I feel we’ll discover out after we understand how far Fab Wardley goes, and Wardley has his work minimize out for him in his subsequent battle, to be completely trustworthy. It means Jarrell Miller. That’s a tough evening’s work for him as a result of Jarrell Miller is massively sturdy. He’s identical to a giant mattress with arms. He simply absorbs completely all the things. And he can provide it again. We’ve seen that battle with Andy Ruiz then going to a draw. It’s one he might have gotten. Some folks like a Jarrell Miller win and a few folks had Ruiz win, however both approach it’s a extremely shut contest. And Andy Ruiz’s a prime class fighter.
Owen Fulda: Jarrell Miller is a three-time drug cheat. How is that this a actuality in boxing in 2025 that he’s getting this shot at Wardley?
Tony Bellew: I’m not condoning any drug cheats as a result of anybody dishonest for performance-enhancing medicine needs to be banned for all times. I’ve stated this, and I’ll stand by it. People failing resulting from over-the-counter medication – I consider they need to have a slap on the wrist and be instructed and instructed about how essential vitamin is in boxing. But when Jarrell Miller failed that drug check forward of combating Anthony Joshua, he was one molecule away from being the Incredible Hulk. He had each single agent in his physique, potential, each steroid potential from EPO to testosterone. I’m shocked he didn’t explode.
It’s absolute insanity. Until somebody is banned for all times, it’s not going to cease. Because these fighters will take the danger of getting a two-year slap on the wrist, they usually’ll maintain doing it. Someone’s obtained to set a precedent. I feel that the degrees of issues within the new system needs to be taken into consideration as a result of meals are altering. All sorts of various issues are given to boost meals. But when somebody’s on steroids, it’s clear as evening and day.
I really feel for Fab. I actually do. Fabio, in my view, shouldn’t should undergo Jarrell Miller. This is among the world title eliminations he’s combating for. How Jarrell Miller obtained two world title eliminators, I’ll by no means know. Because he’s simply been popped that many occasions. It’s simply one in every of this stuff. But like I stated earlier than, I’ll say it once more. We’re not gonna study till someone is banned for all times.
Owen Fulda: Joe Joyce misplaced to Filip Hrgovic on the weekend. He stated he received’t retire. Frank Warren says he ought to retire. Where do you stand?
Tony Bellew: I noticed a video that was on social media. I feel it lasted for about 4 to 5 minutes. Joe was talking on digicam and never making any sense in any respect. It was heartbreaking to observe. Joe Joyce is an clever man. Yeah, he’s not gentle. He’s not silly. He’s taken pointless punishments now. I referred to as for this after the Derek Chisora battle. People are leaping on this bandwagon now. I imply, I did inform anybody and everybody who’d pay attention as quickly as he was performed by Zhang within the first one. I instructed anybody who’d pay attention. His best asset was his sturdiness and his potential, and his potential to soak up severe quantities of punishment and never be budged.
That was his asset. And I instructed anybody, pay attention, when that goes, he’s a hazard in boxing. It’s not simply downhill; it’s life-changing. And I feel his life is already altering now from a bodily perspective and from the surface wanting in. He’s not the identical individual he was when he beat Daniel Dubois. When he beat Daniel Dubois and the way he beat him in, he simply absorbed all the things. And everybody forgets this: he did the very same to Joseph Parker. He absorbs all the things that may be thrown and he simply outmans you. It’s heartbreaking if you’re a fighter and also you’ve hit him with all the things you’ve obtained, and he simply retains coming.
He doesn’t even should be a giant puncher. He simply breaks your coronary heart, and also you’ve simply had sufficient, and he’s performed each of it. Done it to Daniel Dubois and he’s performed it to Joseph Parker. But as I stated earlier than, as soon as that sturdiness goes. And that’s his nice asset. And it’s gone. And Zang simply popped it someday. It was at all times gonna go. I wasn’t certain at what level, I imply, don’t get me fallacious, you do get freaks within the sport. Like Oliver McCall, I used to be ready for his to go someday and by no means did. Never did. You know, probably the most sturdy heavyweight ever, in my view.
But Joe Joyce’s did. And I simply hope good persons are round to say, “Joe, enough’s enough.” You know I’d prefer to consider he’s earned a number of quid and he’s performed. Let me inform you, he’s earned each single penny of it. Just stroll away into the sundown and luxuriate in what you’ve performed.
Owen Fulda: On Joseph Parker and Martin Bakole
Tony Bellew: Every time he’s thrown to the wolves, he comes again main the pack and he’s performed completely unbelievable. And then the newest travesty was Daniel Dubois pulling out. And if he’s sick, he’s obtained to drag out. I don’t query Daniel Dubois in any respect. But he didn’t should tackle one other bogeyman in Martin Bakole. No one wished to go close to him! We’ve heard about him. He’s the best sparring professional on the planet and he’s completely smashed the life out of each single individual strolling on the planet in sparring. I feel we quickly realized, and he quickly noticed that all the things’s completely different with 10-ounce gloves on and no head guards on.
But I feel Martin Bakole shall be again. I do assume he’ll nonetheless characteristic in and amongst the riggs, however the blueprint is there now on the way to do him. We may see Martin in higher form subsequent time. Yeah, that wasn’t nice. I perceive why he’s performed it. It’s a last-minute name. He’s a heavyweight, he doesn’t should make weight. But for those who genuinely consider you’re gonna win, go for it. But you’ll be able to’t genuinely consider you’re gonna beat a person who’s in battle form. He’s been within the camp for 12 weeks and then you definitely’re gonna flip up on three or 4 days discover at what, 300lbs+? It’s not look mate.
Owen Fulda: UFC President Dana White is launching the brand new Boxing League. Have you heard about it? There are fewer weight divisions. It’s a type of shaking up boxing. What’s your tackle it?
Tony Bellew: I feel he’s making an attempt to make use of a format much like the UFC. You have to grasp what Dana’s achieved with the UFC is nothing wanting outstanding. I’m a blended martial arts fan. I’ve been watching and learning blended martial arts because the days of Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman. There’s a documentary on the market for individuals who’ve by no means seen it referred to as the Smashing Machine. That will inform you all the things it’s essential know in regards to the making of the martial arts within the UFC when it began build up. I additionally was watching it and loving it when the Ultimate Fighter obtained placed on. And folks miss what really made and saved the UFC. It was Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin. It’s the best battle in UFC historical past that I’ve ever seen. These fellas completely smashed the life out of one another, they usually did it on Spike TV. And it simply blew up from there. Overnight, it exploded. This battle modified blended martial arts within the UFC, in my view, anyway. I feel Dana’s come out and stated it as properly. Stephan Bonnar vs Forrest Griffin was simply unbelievable. It actually was chaos.
Mixed martial arts is the purest type of combating. There’s no two methods about it, however one man’s been in a position to management the narrative the entire approach by. And if one man can management the narrative and management the place it’s going, then it’s lots simpler to regulate. Boxing has been going because the begin of man. And one man won’t ever fully management all of boxing, it’s true. I’m sorry to inform you the reality, it’s not possible.
There’s too many managers. There’s too many promoters. There’s too many agendas. And sure, you’ll be able to align a few of them and cash will assist with that. But you’re by no means going to have one individual. And you’ll be able to’t take away with belts both. And whoever is suggesting that’s fallacious for doing it. Don’t destroy the historical past and the heritage of my great, superb sports activities. The WBC, the IBF, WBA, and the WBO have created one thing that children look as much as and wish to be. That is what they aspire to be. And that’s crucial factor.
Owen Fulda: Did you at all times have your eyes on WBC?
Tony Bellew: Yeah, that was my belt. There’s a person from my metropolis that held it. The superb John Conteh and Paul Hodkinson as properly. And there’s so many nice fighters which have come out of my metropolis. But John Conteh, in my view, is by far the best fighter that ever got here out of my metropolis or my space. You might say, with him being from Kirkby and I wished to emulate him. Then the greats like Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield have all held the WBC titles.
It was a dream come true to win it myself at Goodison Park. I can’t put it into phrases and anybody who is aware of, lived and seen by their lifelong dream and aim. I’ve performed it. I’ve been in, performed it. I’ve performed that and seen it so all I’ve wished is for different children on the market to encourage and go and do it. If I can do it, you are able to do it. And for those who’re making an attempt to remove them belts, it’s only a shame. Boxing and the UFC are two fully completely different sports activities they usually can’t be run the identical. Neither of them is fallacious. But they’re simply two fully various things. I respect what Dana’s doing and I’m certain it’ll collect momentum and it’ll acquire numbers, however I simply don’t assume boxing may be run by one man.
Owen Fulda: Can we get a fast prediction of you for the Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach rematch, if one involves fruition?
Tony Bellew: Tank does him. Tank figures it out. Tank’s probably the greatest considering fighters on the planet. He’s distinctive. He’s actually good. But I feel the factor with Tank is, he’s in his personal head. And he lets the surface noise have an effect on him. Whereas that boy simply must concentrate on boxing, take himself away from the shit and simply concentrate on combating. Because he’s such a gifted particular person. Talented fighter. So he must maintain that head down. Focus on his job. We’ve heard discuss him doubtlessly retiring, which might be an excellent disgrace to boxing. Hopefully it doesn’t occur. Terrible. But Lamont Roach should nonetheless be fuming about what occurred. He’s an excellent fighter. And I feel he ought to really feel laborious performed by and aggrieved, however pay attention once you get a draw on a house present and also you’re the away fighter, it type of tells you the place it’s at.
Owen Fulda: Quick one about Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. If we take their fathers out of the equation, is the battle nonetheless nonetheless a blockbuster promote out stadium battle and the way a lot does that play a component within the narrative?
Tony Bellew: Well, you must perceive that when it first will get made, with the buildup and the hype that they’ve each had. Take out their fathers, they’re constructing the hype. They’ve each had a variety of buildup they usually’ve created their very own headlines they usually’ve performed controversial issues themselves. But the rematch is a special degree. It’s captured the general public’s creativeness.
You’ve obtained grandmothers speaking about it, ladies in bingo additionally speaking about it, particularly after the egg slap, then that makes the information and the likes of Piers Morgan speaking about on his present, each day. It’s astronomical. I imply, this stadium holds 75,000 folks. There’s 135,000 folks on a ready listing for tickets, it’s astronomical. I didn’t understand how huge it was till I used to be on my approach residence watching the primary presser, and I believed to myself “This is big.” And then after that presser, I believed “This is ginormous. This is just ridiculous.” It’s been blown out of proportion, however I feel that’s factor. I feel it’s nice for British boxing. It’s nice for the rivalry, it’s nice for the promoters concerned. It leaves British boxing in a extremely wholesome place.
Owen Fulda: What in regards to the £100,000 wonderful for Chris Eubank for the egg slap. Is {that a} bit harsh?
Tony Bellew: I feel we have to see the place that’s going? I’ve heard in regards to the cash going to ex-fighters’ funds. Well, I’m one in every of 1000’s upon 1000’s of ex-fighters. I’ve by no means had a single peep from the board since I retired. The solely factor I’ve had them name me for is to ask if I’m gonna renew my supervisor’s license. Asking if I will pay them. I’m not a giant fan of them. The board doesn’t do sufficient for former fighters; they actually don’t. And there’s many extra like me. I do know Paul Smith spoke out about it, asking the place all the cash goes. There needs to be extra former fighters on the board. The board is getting old quickly and it wants a number of youthful, more energizing faces in there. That’s not me asking as a result of I couldn’t consider something worse than being on the board. My time is taken up sufficient as it’s. Get some youthful faces on that board. Get some former fighters on that board who perceive and know what it’s like on this modern-day being a fighter. It’s drained and it’s washed and it’s missing.
