Bellew: I'm Going To Punch Cleverly's F***ing Head In!
By Chris McKenna, courtesy of The Daily Star
TONY BELLEW reckons knocking Nathan Cleverly out tonight will be more enjoyable than getting in between the sheets with his missus. The Liverpool puncher is gunning for revenge against Welshman Cleverly, who beat him narrowly on points in 2011 when they were both campaigning at light-heavyweight.
The bitter rivals go toe-to-toe tonight in the cruiserweight division at a sold-out Echo Arena in Bellew's hometown.
And the Everton-mad fighter, who will walk to the ring to the club's famous Z-Cars anthem, reckons sending his foe to the canvas will be more enjoyable than having sex with his partner Rachel or seeing his beloved Toffees score a late winner.
He said:
"I like fighting. I've liked it since the day I was born. I don't know what it is, I just like fighting. I'd do it for nothing, just don't tell my promoter Eddie Hearn!
"I don't know what it is, the feeling I get, there is no better feeling in the world than knocking someone spark out and I've done it about 50 times now - I love it, I love it.
"I know you're going to say, 'What about having sex' or 'Everton scoring a goal'. But nothing is better than knocking someone spark out besides making my kids smile."
Bellew, 31, already has his celebration planned out should he exact revenge on former WBO light-heavyweight champion Cleverly.
The Liverpudlian fighter asked his rival on Thursday if he "had been to any AA meetings recently" in an apparent accusation that the Welshman has had trouble with alcohol.
But it will be Bellew who will be sinking pints on Saturday night if he is toasting victory.
He said:
"We'll let the maniac off the leash tonight - I'm getting the chance to finally put it to bed and when I do I'm going to enjoy it.
"I very rarely drink, I eat loads of s**t food when I'm not in a training camp but after this I'm having a f***ing big bar of Galaxy and I'm having a pint.
"I haven't had a pint in a year but I'm having a pint and a Galaxy when I punch his f***ing head in."
It is set to be a hostile atmosphere inside the 10,000-seater arena at King's Dock in Liverpool tonight.
Extra police have been drafted in with concerns that trouble could escalate quickly with around 600 fans from Cardiff expected to cheer on their man.
The pair squared off at yesterday's fiery weigh-in as both fighters tipped the scales at 14 stone 3lbs.
Cleverly - who has suffered just one defeat in his 29-fight career - knows it is going to be a hostile atmosphere.
He defended his WBO title at the lower division in the same arena three years ago against Bellew.
That night he won on points, but the Cefn Fforest native does not want to risk going to the scorecards tonight in case there is a hometown decision.
He said:
"I can't wait to silence him and embarrass him in front of his own people.
"When you go to the judges, especially in the other fighter's hometown, it is open to debate and you're never sure.
"I'm going to take it into my own hands. I'm going to break him down and take him out late on."
* Cleverly v Bellew II is exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office tonight with George Groves, Anthony Joshua and James DeGale also on the bill. skysports.com/cleverlybellew