TONY BELLEW claims his career would have been over if he had lost at his
beloved Goodison Park.
Bellew, 33, scored a sensational third-round knockout against Ilunga Makabu on
Sunday night to claim the vacant WBC world cruiserweight title.
And the diehard Everton fan insists anything other than victory at his home
from home was simply not an option.
He said: “I go down in Everton’s history books as the first man to ever box at
Goodison for a world title — and I won it as well.
“You don’t understand how many times I sat in the Gwladys Street Stand and
watched my heroes play football.
“I’ve given this game my whole life. I’m fighting for my life every time I get
in that ring. I was willing to die before I lost — I wasn’t going to lose at
Goodison.
“Everything I’ve dreamed of, it was happening. It was real life. My career
would have been over if I’d lost at Goodison.
“I wouldn’t have been able to show my face if I’d lost. That’s how much
pressure was on me.
“My season ticket was in the Gwladys Street end and that’s why I wanted the
ring put in front of it. Against all the odds, I’ve gone and done it.”
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Bellew was dropped in the first round but recovered to send the Goodison
faithful home happy.
A barrage of punches had Makabu, 29, in trouble in the third and a vicious
left hook left the Congolese southpaw out cold on his feet before he crashed
to the canvas.
Bellew added: “I didn’t know how I’d beat Makabu, I really didn’t. If you
could design a nightmare opponent for me, he’d be it.
“He can punch like a f***ing truck and he broke my nose in that first round.
“He hurt me and I thought ‘I’m going to take his head off’. It hurt like hell.
“Makabu hit me with a crowbar but I knocked him spark out.
“I’m the best cruiserweight in the world and I want big fights that attract
massive money.”
A unification bout with IBF and WBA title-holder Denis Lebedev, 36, is now
firmly in Bellew’s sights.
But he also fancies a domestic showdown with David Haye, who moved up to
heavyweight after unifying the WBO, WBA and WBC cruiserweight titles.
Bellew said: “I don’t want silly defences, no wasting everyone’s time.
“I want to fight Lebedev because he’s got two titles, then I’ll take Haye,
that bitch from Bermondsey.
“I haven’t fought clowns or bums, I’ve fought the best and I’ve just beaten
the best.
“Anyone who wants this belt can come and try to take it from me.
“I want to fight again before the end of the year and unify the cruiserweight
division.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “Tony is not just the No1 in the division but also
the biggest personality.
“He’s no longer just a Scouser with a big mouth who says he’s going to do
something — he’s a Scouser with a big mouth who’s a world
champion.”