Bellew vs Flores: David Coldwell and Tony Bellew have one eye on challenger Mairis Briedis
Tuesday 11 October 2016 15:24, UK
Tony Bellew and David Coldwell are looking forward to seeing mandatory challenger Mairis Briedis fight in the flesh.
The WBC cruiserweight world champion defends his title against BJ Flores, live on Sky Sports on Saturday night, topping a packed card at the Echo Arena.
Bellew's first title defence will start at approximately 10pm, but before that his No 1 challenger for the coveted green belt, Briedis (20-0-KO17), is in action against Simon Vallily (9-0-KO2).
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I want to see what he's got to bring to the table. I like to watch opponents close up rather than from afar.
"He's a very good fighter, very powerful," Bellew told Sky Sports. "His best win was probably against Manuel Charr, a heavyweight, but we'll see what he's got on Saturday.
"He's really good and he's mandatory for a reason but make no mistake, I've already beaten the WBC's mandatory in Ilunga Makabu, the most feared man in the cruiserweight division."
Coldwell will have more time to focus on the cruiserweight division with the news that Liverpool heavyweight David Price is not on the bill, just two weeks after winning in Germany.
It means the trainer is hoping to be ringside to get a closer look at the unbeaten Latvian that could be Bellew's next opponent.
"Briedis might be on before Tony is there, so I we will have to see if the timing works out," Coldwell told Sky Sports.
"I want to see what he's got to bring to the table. I like to watch opponents close up rather than from afar.
"He's a good fighter but there's nothing like watching someone fight in the flesh. You just pick up on small things that you wouldn't see if you were watching it on TV.
Briedis has worked his way into the mandatory position by stopping Olanrewaju Durodola in nine rounds in May, to take the WBC silver cruiserweight title, and has had six straight stoppage wins and has only been taken the full 12 championship rounds by experienced Ismail Abdoul in November 2014, winning a wide unanimous decision.
Bellew and Coldwell will get even more information as the Latvian is going in with Middlesbrough's Vallily, who has sparred with 'Bomber' before.
Watch Tony Bellew defend his WBC cruiserweight world title against BJ Flores live on Saturday night, from 8.00pm, on Sky Sports 2.
