Cleverly v Bellew II: The Panel share their favourite Liverpool fight nights

The crowds in Liverpool are famous for creating an intense atmosphere when they host a fight. This weekend they welcome home Tony Bellew for his rematch with Nathan Cleverly and it promises to be a classic, so we asked The Panel to pick their favourite Liverpool nights...

So we are backing Liverpool for a big night of boxing .. what's been your best fight night there?

Paul Smith: It has to be fighting Tony Quigley when I won the British title. I think I've only had three or four fights there. Working on them, I am hoping this is the best of the lot but it was when David Price boxed Matt Skelton. It was a great, great atmosphere; I loved it when he came into the arena. At the time he was flattening people left, right and centre, and making a proper name for himself as a heavyweight. It was just such a good time because he was knocking everyone out.

I was well up for the challenge. It was a blur but there I was winning the British and Commonwealth titles in Liverpool, me from Manchester.

Jamie Moore: Easy. When I won the British title for the first time. I came in with five days’ notice to fight Michael Jones, in his own backyard. I was supposed to be on his undercard but got a call on the Monday and I knew it was going to be tough, but I was well up for the challenge. It was a blur but there I was winning the British and Commonwealth titles in Liverpool, me from Manchester. Any boxer will tell you the adrenalin rush when you get the decision but the one thing I remember is it felt like I was in Manchester. I'd flogged 200 tickets and it was in Everton Park, which only holds 1,200-odd, so it felt like home. Absolutely brilliant!

Johnny Nelson: In 1995 my friend Nigel Bradley fought against Shea Neary. I was actually the only person in Nigel’s corner for the fight, so it can't have gone well! It was early in Neary’s career but we certainly knew about him, though we still thought Nigel had a good chance. We went out to the ring and Neary came out and there were fireworks going off inside the ring. It actually startled me a bit; I had always known this fight was a big deal, but I didn’t realise how much of a big deal it was until that moment. It was an absolute slug-fest that lasted two rounds. The crowd was absolutely heaving. It wasn’t a massive arena fight, but the fans in Liverpool love their boxing and create an unforgettable atmosphere with that passion.

Glenn McCrory: The Shea Neary times were unbelievable. He was a real throwback fighter and Liverpool loved him. I love Liverpool and I remember the one against Andy Holligan, back in 1998. It was outdoors at Stanley Park and I can't remember if I was working on it or went to watch it as a fan. Holligan was a good fighter but Shane stopped him in his usual explosive style and I just remember the atmosphere was crackling, as soon as he walked in, never mind when he stopped Holligan in the sixth. It was outside but it was packed because that's what happens when you put a show on in Liverpool. The Shamrock Express and Liverpool was a match made in heaven.

Jim Watt: It is so hard to pick one out. Liverpool is one of those cities that you know as soon as a fight is coming, they all get behind it. There are a few better fighting cities in Britain - I would say Glasgow, of course! But when you come from one of these industrial working-class places you will know what I mean. Everyone wants to see a good, honest, hard-working fight and that is what they get from their local lads - and I am sure we will get the same when Tony Bellew steps in with Nathan Cleverly again. Liverpool will be right behind it, those fight fans will want their man to win, but they will always give anyone credit, as long as he gives it his all. I think Saturday could be another one of those nights...

Watch Cleverly v Bellew II live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office on November 22, with Joshua, Groves, DeGale and more, also on the bill. Go to skysports.com/cleverlybellew to book.