Joshua vs Whyte: Glenn McCrory urges Tony Bellew to be clinical against Mateusz Masternak
Wednesday 9 December 2015 14:49, UK
Tony Bellew can earn a world title shot by leaving the bold statements to his fists, says Glenn McCrory.
Tony Bellew is fighting for the European cruiserweight title on Saturday and all the pressure is on him to impress. It's a big bill and people will be looking to shine and really put their opponents to the sword.
When you get nights like this - and we've seen them over the years - everybody on the bill has the opportunity to steal the limelight because there's no stand-out superstar. Bellew will be trying to do that just the same as Luke Campbell, Gary O'Sullivan and the rest of them.
On a bill like this, it's about finding out who the star of the show is. Who's going to shine above everyone else?
Bellew has promised so much and not quite delivered what he promised. Even when he delivers and it's good, he's promised more than that.
Bellew has promised so much and not quite delivered. Even when he has produced, he's promised more than that. So less is more for him at the moment. He doesn't have to tell us that he's going to trample on their graves and blow them apart with guns blazing.
Whenever he puts on a good display and wins, it's not quite what he said it was going to be. Tony is a good fighter, a great kid and a great entertainer but now I really want to see him go out there and let what he does be the talking point. I've always asked him to do that.
It's great having a personality and saying all these things. It's great being Tony Bellew - no doubt about it, but go and just do the fighting and let the personality talk afterwards.
I still believe Tony has what it takes to win a world title at cruiserweight; definitely. The right opportunity just has to present itself. If he gets a world title opportunity and tells them he's going to take them apart in a round and then wins a 12-round decision, then it's going to be a disappointment, so don't build it up so much.
He's compared himself to the greats but he should do the fighting first and then do the talking afterwards. He's got to make it count now - 33 isn't old by today's standards. It's prime time. It's when I felt my best even though my career had been over for five years. This is when Bellew needs to win a world title and I think he can.
He needs to impress on Saturday night. He doesn't need to tell us all the things he's going to do - he just needs to go out and do a really good job.
Tony is already a world-class fighter and it's just about waiting for the opportunity to knock. Being with Eddie Hearn, the opportunity will knock and winning a European title is an automatic door opener to a world title fight. If he wins this convincingly, he'll be boxing for a world title in the spring.
He just can't afford a slip-up. Boxing is all about the day you fight. The here and now. Tony has to make himself the best he can be on Saturday night and I think he will do so. I believe he'll stop Masternak in about nine rounds.
I don't want to see Talker Bellew - I want to see Bomber Bellew. That's what everyone loves.
Watch Bellew vs Masternak on Joshua vs Whyte, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office, December 12, now available to order via your Sky remote or online.
