On Saturday night, in Liverpool, Tony Bellew will meet Isaac Chilemba in WBC world title eliminator. With the winner set for a world title shot against either Chad Dawson or Adonis Stevenson, it is set to be an electrifying evening in the city’s Echo Arena. Despite being deep in preparation for the fight, Tony Bellew took time out to have a quick chat with us before his big night.
Last time out against Roberto Bolonti you got badly cut early on and had to adapt your game plan. Do you feel you learned a lot from that fight?
TB: I learned a massive, massive amount. I went out there like a crazed animal trying to knock him out in the first 2 rounds and ended up with an arsehole above my eyebrow. It was crazy to go through that but I’ve done it and got through it and you learn from that.
In preparation for this fight with Chilemba you’ve been out sparring and training in New York… what’s that been like?
TB: New York’s a great experience. It’s no good getting people coming over here to spar and work with me because they can lay down over here as nobody knows them. But when you go to their backyard their friends and people are watching them and they’re never going to lie down you have to put them down and that’s why I go to these places. When you go to their backyard and smash them it means something as everyone fights to the death on their home patch.
What’s the support from your team been like in the build up to this fight?
TB: I have a fantastic team behind me. I have great backing from Eddie, Matchroom and the rest of my team and for the first time in my career I feel like I’m being looked after properly. It’s great to be part of.
I know you can’t give too much away but what sort of game plan do you have in place for Saturday?
TB: Destruction. I’ve got to hurt him and I’ve got to make him feel pain as fast and as early as possible. That’s the plan and it will happen because I’ll get to him some way.
The fight is taking place in front of a packed Echo Arena, in your home town of Liverpool. You’ve fought there before so how does it feel walking out in front of a packed home crowd?
TB: When you have 7,000 people screaming for you it’s a real buzz. I love having a fight there because the more people watching the better, it’s a really great gig.
Buddy McGirt, Isaac Chilemba’s trainer, has suggested you might freeze under the added pressure of fighting in front of your fans. What do you have to say to that?
TB: It’s not a pressure it’s a pleasure. Pressure is paying the mortgage, pressure is feeding your three kids, pressure is dealing with your family, pressure is making sure you can afford a holiday and your kids get a good education. That’s pressure. Fighting him in an arena in front of 7,000 people it’s a pleasure. I’m going to punch him to pieces and will get a real buzz out of it.
If you win against Chilemba you’re in line for a world title shot. Is that a fight you’d like to bring over to Liverpool?
TB: Yes of course but that’s down to Eddie. I just throw the punches and he sorts everything else out, but it would be a dream come true to fight Dawson especially over here.
Bernard Hopkins recently recaptured a world title is he someone else on your radar?
TB: I admire what’s he done and he’s a legend in the sport, but I just want to fight the best light heavyweight in the world and for me that’s Chad Dawson.
What about a rematch with Nathan Cleverly would you be interested in that?
TB: I don’t even entertain questions about him any more. His careers a joke just look at who he’s fighting, it’s pathetic. I don’t even give him the time of day.
So what would be the perfect next 12-18 months for you?
TB: To fight at Goodison Park for a world title. That’s the ultimate dream.
Finally what’s your prediction for Saturday?
TB: A vicious win. If I hit him cleanly with 10 ounce gloves he’s going to wake up in the St. Johns.
