Tony Bellew has sent a stern message to one of boxing’s most avoided heavyweights.
Bellew enjoyed a short but successful campaign at heavyweight in the final few years of his career, defeating former world heavyweight champion David Haye twice between 2017 and 2018.
The 42-year-old from Liverpool’s career defining moment came in 2016 when he knocked out Ilunga Makabu to capture the WBC world cruiserweight title at Goodison Park, having failed in his two prior title challenges against Nathan Cleverly and Adonis Stevenson.
Since drawing the curtain on his career after he was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in November 2018, ‘The Bomber’ has moved into a career of punditry and commentary, working with DAZN since 2021.
In an interview with Sporting Talk, Bellew spoke of heavyweight contender Martin Bakole’s recent bout against Joseph Parker, but admits there was ‘no excuse’ for the 31-year-old to be so out of shape despite being drafted in to face Parker at such short notice.
“Listen, I give him all the credit in the world, I take my hat off to Martin Bakole because he didn’t have to do that, he was ready to face Efe Ajagba. But what I will say is, there’s no excuse to be walking around at 320lbs, you’re a slob, you are a professional athlete, you’re being paid to be a professional athlete, live the life mate. I hope he learns a lesson from that, because Martin Bakole is a really good fighter, he’s a problem for the heavyweight division.”
Bakole stepped in to face the in-form New Zealander on just 48-hours notice, after IBF heavyweight champion Daniel Dubois pulled out of his scheduled title defence against Parker which was due to take place on February 22.
It took Parker just two rounds to stop Bakole as he retained his WBO ‘Interim’ world title, which should now set up another opportunity for the 33-year-old to become a two-weight world heavyweight champion.
