Tony Bellew hasn’t fought since 2018, but has suggested he could still return to the boxing ring.
Walking away from the fight game is one of the hardest things a boxer ever has to do. The money, the adrenaline, the attention and the routine of camp are all things that lure fighters back in, often well past the time they should have hung up their gloves for good.
Just this week, two former retired fighters, Mike Tyson and Floyd Mayweather, who are nearing 60 and 50, respectively, have announced they will be fighting in an exhibition next year.
In July, ageing fight veteran Manny Pacquiao also made a comeback when he drew with Mario Barrios in a welterweight contest.
Now, speaking to Pundit Arena, former cruiserweight champion Bellew has said that although no firm plans are in place, were someone to come along with a big financial offer, he would be open to lacing up the gloves one more.
“I don’t really have a name. But listen, we’ve all got a price. Do I want to? No. But then am I stupid enough to say I would never do it? No I’m not. Because like I said before, we’ve all got a price. If someone was to stump up enough, you’ve got me.
“I was happy enough to fight Lukasz Rozanski. I spoke to Eddie Hearn about it and Frank Warren and it just didn’t stack up. I want to be a two-weight world champion. That was literally 18 months ago, it wasn’t that long ago. It was just before he faced Lawrence Okolie. I’d spoken to his team and it just didn’t stack up.
“If the rewards aren’t right, there’s absolutely no point. Don’t get me wrong, the legacy side of it does appeal to me – being a two-weight world champion. But it just didn’t work. But me returning? Never say never, but it would take an awful lot. If Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg have got a price, then so does the fat boy from Liverpool.”
Bellew ended his career on a high with a pair of back-to-back knockout wins over former cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion David Haye, and since then has remained a popular pundit.
Whether or not Bellew does indeed return to the ring remains to be seen.
