Boxing

[toffee-L]

Completely disagree - if he can grab a world title fight or a high profile name and fill out a massive arena or even a stadium, he'd be stupid not to take it. His career in terms of legacy is meaningless - he's not going to be considered an 'all time great' no matter what he does.

If he can wing the Fury fight, get leathered but earn millions upon millions from the box office of it, it's a no brainer for him.

The more Fury fights the less chance there is of that fight happening. Tony has been pretty honest about the chances he'd have against top heavy weights, he admits both Wilder and Joshua would knock him into next week as they are too big, too powerful and too quick. Fury is really big and pretty quick for his size but he's not a puncher so he isn't dangerous and he's horribly inactive so Bellew is right to fancy he can defeat this version of Fury. If Fury can get himself fit, beat some fighters and get his mojo back then I think Bellew swerves that fight.

Bellew has been very smart with his matchmaking, he recognised that Haye was finished and that he could be the one to beat him. Guys like Andre Ward and Tysoe Fury, as good as they are in their prime, are smart targets as they are really inactive and you'll never get a better chance to beat them than now. I think Ward coming out of retirement to fight Bellew is quite possible. Big payday for both.

 

[Tubey]

The more Fury fights the less chance there is of that fight happening. Tony has been pretty honest about the chances he'd have against top heavy weights, he admits both Wilder and Joshua would knock him into next week as they are too big, too powerful and too quick. Fury is really big and pretty quick for his size but he's not a puncher so he isn't dangerous and he's horribly inactive so Bellew is right to fancy he can defeat this version of Fury. If Fury can get himself fit, beat some fighters and get his mojo back then I think Bellew swerves that fight.

Bellew has been very smart with his matchmaking, he recognised that Haye was finished and that he could be the one to beat him. Guys like Andre Ward and Tysoe Fury, as good as they are in their prime, are smart targets as they are really inactive and you'll never get a better chance to beat them than now. I think Ward coming out of retirement to fight Bellew is quite possible. Big payday for both.

I agree, but I don't think Bellew really cares who the match-up is against - he just cares about the money now and, by proxy, the opponent having a name to exploit.

If he loses, he loses. As long as he leaves the ring with a massive cheque and his health then he's sorted - nothing tops Goodison and smashing Haye twice in London, anything else really is a bonus at this point.

People calling for Bellew's retirement now... just don't get it. Hasn't had a tough career, has barely been hurt ever, doesn't fight a high intensity style. Technically he could go for three or four more years but in reality there's absolutely no need to extend himself beyond one or at the very most two more fights.

 

[overkill]

He fought an over the hill haye who was clearly injured in both fights.
If you only count the rounds haye wasnt injured in, haye would easily have won. He took him to round 11 in the first fight ffs.
If haye again wasnt injured he would easily have won both fights even at 37.

I don't buy the injury bollocks he only seemed to be injured after being dropped by bellew.
Hayes game relies on athletism which declines with age, once that's declined you need to have excellent boxing fundamentals to carry being competitive at the top.
Bottom line bellew has better fundamentals.

Haye would likely have beaten bellew back in 2010, but it's not 2010 and haye lost to bellew

You could also say Wladimir Klitschko would have beaten Joshua if he was younger, if Klitschko was younger he would have had the energy and explosiveness to finish Joshua after dropping him heavy in the 5th.

 

[havrey0123]

Completely disagree - if he can grab a world title fight or a high profile name and fill out a massive arena or even a stadium, he'd be stupid not to take it. His career in terms of legacy is meaningless - he's not going to be considered an 'all time great' no matter what he does.

If he can wing the Fury fight, get leathered but earn millions upon millions from the box office of it, it's a no brainer for him.

He had enough money after the first haye fight, the second fight was just a bonus payment.
Why go out on a loss
He will be 36 by the time he fights next and his boxing style isn't enjoying to watch.

 

[Tubey]

He had enough money after the first haye fight, the second fight was just a bonus payment.
Why go out on a loss
He will be 36 by the time he fights next and his boxing style isn't enjoying to watch.

Because Bellew has no real legacy to speak of except a personal one, which he achieved at Goodison Park and smashing Haye twice in London. The millions he'd earn will be worth more than going out on a loss - a loss next fight wouldn't lose him anything whatsoever.

 

[Walken]

Completely disagree - if he can grab a world title fight or a high profile name and fill out a massive arena or even a stadium, he'd be stupid not to take it. His career in terms of legacy is meaningless - he's not going to be considered an 'all time great' no matter what he does.

If he can wing the Fury fight, get leathered but earn millions upon millions from the box office of it, it's a no brainer for him.

Last night didn't really impress me in all honesty, and that's speaking as someone who followed tony as an amateur, but fair play he has gotten himself two massive paydays and got the wins, though a couple of default wins in a way, but that's not his fault.
I agree totally on Fury, and if I was hearn i would be telling him to start calling fury all sorts, money wise only joshua pays better, the big advantage being that fury isn't concussive as a puncher, so the health risks are less. If he is arsed about legacy he would drop down and fight usyk, he won't and I don't blame him, pays poorly, has to make weight again and loses. He should be going alll out for the Fury fight (who by the way we have no idea what level he comes back at), retire a millionaire who has grabbed more headlines than anyone thought possible

 

[overkill]

He had enough money after the first haye fight, the second fight was just a bonus payment.
Why go out on a loss
He will be 36 by the time he fights next and his boxing style isn't enjoying to watch.

Did you just say bellews style isn't enjoyable to watch ?
He's one of the more exciting to watch he boxes smart and always looks to engage and normally gets knock downs

 

[thebluenosebolt]

Completely disagree - if he can grab a world title fight or a high profile name and fill out a massive arena or even a stadium, he'd be stupid not to take it. His career in terms of legacy is meaningless - he's not going to be considered an 'all time great' no matter what he does.

If he can wing the Fury fight, get leathered but earn millions upon millions from the box office of it, it's a no brainer for him.

Fury would actually hurt him..dont see the point except for more money. Mind you I said the same for the fight against Haye and he did more than ok...shows what bottle and spirit ...and good training can do. But seriously though I think Fury is one step too far...lots to prove and I dont think its the best fight to go into...i think tony should count his money and be glad he can still function as a dad first and foremost. Become a full time commentator ??

 

[Tubey]

Fury would actually hurt him..dont see the point except for more money. Mind you I said the same for the fight against Haye and he did more than ok...shows what bottle and spirit ...and good training can do. But seriously though I think Fury is one step too far...lots to prove and I dont think its the best fight to go into...i think tony should count his money and be glad he can still function as a dad first and foremost. Become a full time commentator ??

Really?

Doubt it personally. I think Fury would be too big for Bellew as he'd keep him out of range with his reach very easily, but Fury isn't a concussive puncher at all and I actually think he'd find it very hard to land anything solid on Bellew anyway. A 12 round boring decision is the most likely outcome of that.

Indeed, depending on how Fury comes back, Bellew would have a real chance of doing him on points. People forget that, before Klitchsko, Fury had fought a parade of nobodies and struggled against a fair few, including against people Bellew's height, including when Fury definitely lost to McDermott and got the rigged referee decision.

 

[widnesblue]

Really?

Doubt it personally. I think Fury would be too big for Bellew as he'd keep him out of range with his reach very easily, but Fury isn't a concussive puncher at all and I actually think he'd find it very hard to land anything solid on Bellew anyway. A 12 round boring decision is the most likely outcome of that.

Indeed, depending on how Fury comes back, Bellew would have a real chance of doing him on points. People forget that, before Klitchsko, Fury had fought a parade of nobodies and struggled against a fair few, including against people Bellew's height, including when Fury definitely lost to McDermott and got the rigged referee decision.

It would be a interesting match up of styles. Bellew would be so much quicker than Fury he could cause him serious problems to the body. Fury would only have the reach advantage of him. Bellew would see them shots coming a mile off and be able to get inside and work to the body. Fury’s movement for his size and his faints would have a Bellew thinking a lot. It won’t happen anyways.

Totally agree with what you said about Fury too. That performance against Klitschko got a lot of people convinced he is the best of this generation of heavyweights but his fights prior, he looked average at best. I think the mind games he played on Klitschko were underrated. Threatening to pull out of the fight 2 hours before due to the ring. Threatening to cancel the fight to due to the way Klitschkos hands were wrapped. He played a blinder and got into Klitschkos head in the lead up.

I’d much rather see Bellew fight the winner of Gassiev vs Usyk. Either one of them would be an excellent match up due to styles of fighting and would make a very good match up. It’s a real tough challenge for him and would cause both of them big problems.

 

[Harryflashman]

I don't buy the injury bollocks he only seemed to be injured after being dropped by bellew.
Hayes game relies on athletism which declines with age, once that's declined you need to have excellent boxing fundamentals to carry being competitive at the top.
Bottom line bellew has better fundamentals.

Haye would likely have beaten bellew back in 2010, but it's not 2010 and haye lost to bellew

You could also say Wladimir Klitschko would have beaten Joshua if he was younger, if Klitschko was younger he would have had the energy and explosiveness to finish Joshua after dropping him heavy in the 5th.

I’m so so bored by the Haye injury stuff, the bloke at 37 hasn’t had a meaningful fight since 2012 and people are surprised there is nothing left in the tank , age has caught up simple as for me .


Injury wise he pulled out of klitschko then we had the toe ‘injury’ , we had two fury cancellations, Charr fight called off and two Bellew ‘injuries ‘ and all that’s off the top of my head . Consider me sceptical that all those injuries are genuine, I’ve watched icing for over forty years and I’ve never seen anybody miss fights or complain about injury like him I’m actually bored by it to be honest .

The fact he’s far to big for his frame doesn’t help him to be fair but the ‘injury’ stuff is all a bit dull .

 

[Harryflashman]

Fury would actually hurt him..dont see the point except for more money. Mind you I said the same for the fight against Haye and he did more than ok...shows what bottle and spirit ...and good training can do. But seriously though I think Fury is one step too far...lots to prove and I dont think its the best fight to go into...i think tony should count his money and be glad he can still function as a dad first and foremost. Become a full time commentator ??

I don’t agree to be honest mate , fury isn’t a ridiculous power puncher like a wilder . The fella is big and will wear him down with weight like wlad did but regarding the punch power it’s not something that would massively concern me second or third fight back . I’m not sure I’d be backing tony , like I did in the Haye for fights , but his safety wouldn’t be a concern for me .

 

[ToffeeTim]

I reckon Fury is the only fight that Bellew will be interested in now. If he can't get that one he might well retire.

 

[Tubey]

I reckon Fury is the only fight that Bellew will be interested in now. If he can't get that one he might well retire.

He'd deffo take Ward if it was somehow available. The US PPV figures would be tasty for that, as well as the gate receipts if they did it at Wembley or something.

Fury is more likely, perhaps early 2019.

 

[ToffeeTim]

He'd deffo take Ward if it was somehow available. The US PPV figures would be tasty for that, as well as the gate receipts if they did it at Wembley or something.

Fury is more likely, perhaps early 2019.

Has Ward not retired or am I imagining that?