Tony Bellew has been happily retired since 2018 but has floated the idea of a comeback on a couple of occasions.
The fan-favourite from Liverpool called time on a world title winning career after a sore knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk. He has since been an outspoken pundit, watching the sport from the sidelines.
He first discussed a ring return against the likes of Jake and Logan Paul, saying that he wouldn’t turn down a big purse to make easy work of the YouTubers-turned-fighters.
Then came a more serious proposition – a shot at the WBC Bridgerweight World Title. The comparatively new division has a weight limit of 224lbs and slots in between cruiser and heavyweight, and Bellew fancied himself against then champion Lukasz Rozanski. The Polish fighter opted to face Lawrence Okolie, who knocked him out in one round to take the belt.
Most recently, Bellew was called out by friend Derek Chisora, who has now competed in 48 fights out of a desired 50. The heavyweight world title challenger said he would like to face Bellew in Manchester for his 49th.
In an interview with Instant Casino, Bellew revealed that Chisora has been pushing the idea for some time now, but that he was flat out not considering it.
“Of course he’s serious. He’s been saying to me for years, ‘we are fighting for my last fight, my 50th fight’. Me and Derek go back 20 years. Great mates. We’re really good mates. We’re family, our families are close and friends. He was at my wedding, he and his wife were on our table.
“He just, he’s got this thing in his head that we can have a fight and I’m just like, stop it. So we, I’ve missed a couple of FaceTime calls in the last few days. We spoke when I was on holiday. I literally woke him up after the Joe Joyce fight at eight in the morning to make sure he was feeling feeling okay, ‘how’s your head, everything okay?’.
“And he was okay. He’s all right. So I love Derek Chisora, but nothing is tempting me to fight him. Me putting 10 ounce gloves on and hitting Derek Chisora would not end well. It would not end well.”
