Tony Bellew says world title will complete a lifetime's work
Thursday 26 May 2016 21:30, UK
Tony Bellew vowed to put "a lifetime's work" into his bid to win the vacant WBC world cruiserweight title on Sunday, live on Sky Sports.
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Bellew (26-2-1-KO16) accepts he must bring everything he has to overcome the dangerous Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park, home of his beloved Everton.
Congolese southpaw Makubu (19-1-KO18) has mocked Bellew in the build-up over his part in the film Creed, shot at the same football ground, but the Liverpudlian is under no illusions as to what is at stake.
He said: "It's been a long process and it's time to fight now. There isn't much left to say. He told me it's not a movie and believe you me, I know it's not a movie. The places I'm willing to go
"Real blood, real sweat and real tears get shed in real life. I just can't wait. You dream about something your whole life. From the age of 14 or 15, I wanted to be a world champion. My lifetime's work goes in to those 36 minutes on Sunday.
"That's what it means. Everything else in the world just stops and it's just about me and you. When you look into my eyes you'll see something different to anything you've seen before."
Bellew, who at 6ft 3' stands a good two inches taller than Makabu, says his physical advantages will become evident on fight night.
"Boxing is a brutal sport and he has to make it as brutal as possible but I don't believe he has the size and structure to do it," he said. "He's going to come in light which will be a bad mistake.
"The advantages he usually has are through speed and power - he's normally faster than his opponents and punches harder than them too. In this fight, I don't think he'll have those against me. I've carried my speed from light-heavyweight to cruiserweight, and I don't think he's got more power than me.
"I'll be the bigger man, I'll make it show and I am the real cruiserweight. Look at when I am stood next to Johnny Nelson - we're the same size, and Johnny Nelson was known as one of the monster cruiserweights, well so am I.
"He's been put on the floor. I don't care if it was in his first fight or last fight. Who's he beaten that's a world-class fighter? If Glen Johnson is his best win then that says a lot to me. I'm his biggest test and he's mine. We both have records that suggest we both have vulnerable tendencies so anything can happen."
Despite his confidence, Bellew is a bookmakers' underdog to seize the title but trainer Dave Coldwell is confident his man can upset the odds.
"I'm happy as a coach with what I've seen in the gym," he said. "He's been like a kid and he can't wait to get in the ring and fight. Tony has put the effort and work in. His mind's been on the job.
He's punching hard. People forget that Tony can box. He's faster than what you think he is. He's going to be faster and punching harder than ever.
"He's punching hard. People forget that Tony can box. He's faster than what you think he is. He's going to be faster and punching harder than ever. He's going to be more tuned in, too.
"His career has led to this fight. The higher the obstacles and the bigger the stage - certain fighters perform better."
Bellew had plenty to say to his visitor during the press conference face-off before Makabu playfully struck a 'salute' pose and walked off the stage, leaving the home fighter to milk the applause.
The sight of Liverpool's super-middleweight sensation Callum Smith (19-0-KO14) facing up to Sunday's opponent - Cesar Hernan Reynoso (14-7-3-KO7) - was a remarkable one. 'Mundo' appeared to be approaching a foot taller than the Argentine.
Smith's brothers Paul and Stephen also appear on the card alongside yet another Liverpudlian in heavyweight David Price.
Watch Bellew v Makabu from 6.30pm on Sunday night, live on Sky Sports 1. Before that, you can catch Ricky Burns take on Michele Di Rocco for a world title on Saturday night from 8pm on the same channel.
