Cleverly v Bellew II: Trainer Dave Coldwell cranks up mind games ahead of grudge match
Tuesday 18 November 2014 12:05, UK
Trainer Dave Coldwell insists he has total confidence in Tony Bellew and questioned whether Nathan Cleverly is truly ready for their rematch.
The bitter rivals have been preparing for their second fight on November 22, live on Sky Sports Box Office, with both trainers putting final touches to their tactics.
I’m a believer that real fights prepare you for the big fights. We’ve had two real fights at cruiserweight.
Changes were made in each man’s corner ahead of a fresh chapter at cruiserweight, Bellew hiring long-term friend Coldwell and Darren Wilson taking sole charge of Cleverly after a spell as his strength and conditioning coach.
The 39-year-old Coldwell, a former fighter, has emerged as a promoter in recent years but returned to training duties after Bellew approached him following his disheartening stoppage defeat by Adonis Stevenson last year.
A close bond already existed between the pair, who have known each other since the amateur ranks, and Coldwell was on hand to offer words of sympathy to the beaten fighter in Canada.
The pair have forged a successful partnership to date, with Bellew surviving a scare to halt Valery Brudov in a gruelling battle before detonating a left hook to stop Julio dos Santos in the fifth round.
Pointed
Amid growing hostility ahead of the rematch with Cleverly, Coldwell has remained respectful towards opposing trainer Wilson, a lesser-known figure in boxing circles.
He simply pointed to Bellew’s two fights at cruiserweight as proof he can handle the step up in weight and questioned whether Wilson can say the same about Cleverly’s recent wins over Shawn Corbin and Alejandro Valori.
Coldwell told Sky Sports: “Regardless of experience and whatever Darren has achieved, when you look at him and his fighter and me with my fighter, I know that at cruiserweight my man can box at a high pace – as he did against Brudov.
“I know my man can knock someone down early or in the 12th round, so he carries his power all the way through and I know he can take a shot and come back from a little bit of a crisis moment.
“Does Darren know that about his man, going into this fight? The biggest fight that he’s ever dealt with, the biggest fight that Cleverly’s been in now? Because this is a massive fight. Everything is on the line. Cleverly, if he gets beat by Tony, where does he go?
“Does Darren know? Does Nathan himself know what they can do at cruiserweight? No, they don’t know, because they’ve fought, without being disrespectful, two low-grade opponents.
“I’m a believer that real fights prepare you for the big fights. We’ve had two real fights at cruiserweight.”
Bellew often struggles to contain his emotions and celebrated his demolition of Dos Santos with a passionate outburst in the direction of Cleverly.
But on the other side of the ropes, Coldwell has seen a calmer side to the man nicknamed ‘Bomber’.
“He’s a lovely fella. People only see the lunatic side of him when it comes to a fight. That’s the only time that you see Tony Bellew. That’s the only time you see boxers really, when they are preparing for a fight or in a fight.
“But away from the boxing side, he’s a really, really nice bloke.”
Warned
But there is no lack of spite in the punching power of Bellew, who has vowed to add the Welshman to his tally of 14 wins inside the distance.
Coldwell has worked with some of the hardest hitters during his varying roles in the sport and ranks Bellew among them, but warned Cleverly to expect much more than a crude puncher.
“When I was at (David Haye's promotional company) Hayemaker, in Cyprus for six weeks, I trained David Price. He is 6’9”, 16 1/2 stone. The man is known for punching hard.
“Again with Hayemaker, we had Deontay Wilder over for sparring for the (Wladimir) Klitschko fight. I trained Wilder for six weeks, so I’m used to taking big men on the pads. I know who hits hard and who doesn’t hit hard.
“Believe me, Tony Bellew can punch. But there will be a few things that are going to surprise Cleverly and that is a massive thing in this fight. It’s not just about his power.”
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.
