Tony Bellew had established himself as a prospect to be watched as 2008 came to a close and the next 12 months saw Bellew add another five victories to his slate. Those wins, which included four stoppage wins over the likes of experienced operators like Phil Goodwin, Matthew Ellis and Nick Okoth, set Bellew up for his first professional title. 

Nathan Cleverly had vacated the Commonwealth title as he moved on to a world title eliminator leaving it vacant for Bellew to contest against the four fight novice, Atoli Moore. The Ghanaian was of questionable validity and Bellew’s power duly blew him away in under a round.

The first defence of Bellew’s newly acquired strap was against the awkward Sheffield based southpaw, Bob Ajisafe. The opening rounds were difficult for Bellew as he failed to get to grips with Ajisafe and Bellew was dropped in round four, but he recovered to out-work Ajisafe with superior fitness to take a unanimous decision.

The dangerous Prizefighter champion Ovill McKenzie was the opponent for Bellew’s second defence in what was a Fight of the Year candidate on Frank Warren’s blockbuster show, ‘Return of the Magnificent Seven’. There were flames before the fight as he argued with Cleverly in the pre-fight press conference as Cleverly was on the same show in Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Now with a 14(9)-0 record, Bellew was back fighting in front of his home fans again but he was dropped by McKenzie in rounds one and two. The second was a heavy knockdown that could have knocked out a horse but Bellew jumped up like he was getting out of a cold bath. Once back up Bellew regrouped and wore McKenzie down, the Derby based fighter had resorted to single punch attacks and Bellew capitalized, delivering a sweet left hook that sat McKenzie down and he was stopped when he rose up after an eight count. It was argued by many that referee Phil Edwards stopped the contest to early but it seemed like Bellew would have stopped McKenzie regardless.

The following May in 2011 may prove to have been Bellew’s most important time in his career despite not throwing a punch. The late withdrawal of Nathan Cleverly’s opponent Juergen Braehmer left the newly crowned Welsh world champion without an opponent and in stepped Bellew on just two days notice.

The press conference to announce the fight started with Bellew interrupting Cleverly and ended with the two being pulled apart by security staff. In between was Cleverly threatening to take Bellew outside and slap him, with Bellew responding with a shout of “you f*****g rat”. All live on TV and although Bellew was later stopped from boxing by officials due to concerns on making weight at late notice, the fight was already in public demand and set in stone.

Before Bellew could get a shot at Cleverly’s newly acquired WBO title he had to tackle McKenzie again, in a rematch of their thriller. This time the bout boasted the acquisition of Cleverly’s former British title and McKenzie even sparred Cleverly in the preparation. The fight failed to live up to its expected excitement with Bellew showing a different side to his game on the back foot, cruising to a wide points win and avoiding the strong shots that McKenzie had dropped him with before.

It was far from the ‘master class’ Bellew said it was but with emotions running high it was an understandable comment from a man who stayed disciplined to tactics that many thought he couldn’t. Sitting at ringside, Cleverly shared angry words with Bellew and from that moment it was utterly obvious the two would meet which it has since been announced they will on October 15^th at Liverpool’s Echo Arena.

Can Bellew emulate his hero and fellow Liverpudlian John Conteh by adding a world light-heavyweight title to his British and Commonwealth titles?