It’s been over six years since Tony Bellew last entered a professional boxing ring.
The former WBC cruiserweight champion was last in action in November 2018, when he suffered an eighth round knockout defeat to then-undisputed cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk.
It was Bellew’s 34th and final fight, capping off a career that included him knocking out Ilunga Makabu to claim world honours, and also secure back-to-back stoppage wins at heavyweight over David Haye.
Despite that success, Bellew has revealed who he would be willing to come out of retirement to face, telling First Round TV he would take on Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
“Of course I would. Why wouldn’t I? Do I want to fight him? No. But would I fight him? Absolutely. I don’t want to though. I don’t want to go back to a training camp. I don’t need it.
“I don’t need the headaches, stress and pressure. I don’t need my Mrs going on to me, but if someone wants to cough up the price [I will], because I’ve got a price, we’ve all got a price.”
Paul was last in action in November, taking part in a controversial fight with former world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson. It was the first time since 2005 that Tyson had competed professionally, with Paul winning the eight-round bout by unanimous decision.
Bellew was in attendance during fight week and got involved in a back and forth with Paul, and with ‘The Problem Child’ still currently searching for his next opponent, a bout against Bellew could yet happen, though it remains highly unlikely at this stage.
