Tony Bellew vs BJ Flores: Bomber says he will never fight at Goodison Park again – as he was too nervous last time
EVERTON-mad boxer Tony Bellew has revealed he plans never to fight at Goodison Park again.
The Scouser – a season ticket holder for most of his life – beat Ilunga Makabu on May 29 to win the WBC cruiserweight title at the home of his beloved Toffees in front of 15,000 fans.
But ahead of his first defence of his title on Saturday night, Bellew has revealed why he decided to make his title defence at Liverpool’s Echo Arena – and not Goodison Park.
Speaking to Tom Latchem on talkSPORT Extra Time, Bellew said: “Once I realised I wasn’t good enough to play football for Everton, my whole childhood dream has been to fight at Goodison Park.
“And I’ll be honest, I’ve never felt stress and pressure like it. That pressure was a good thing for me, but it could have backfired. I never want to go through that stress again.
“Does that mean you’ll never see me fight at Goodison again? Probably. I am a firm believer in never saying never but the odds are definitely stacked against it..”
Asked if he would take the opportunity to take on arch-nemesis David Haye at Goodison Park in a world heavyweight title fight if offered, he said: “I’m not sure. I’d rather say let’s go to Wembley!”
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Promoter Eddie Hearn has offered Haye the chance to take on Bellew and win back his old WBC cruiserweight title in February or March. But Bellew insisted he was only thinking about American opponent BJ Flores.
The 33-year-old said: “The only man who wants to hurt me right now is Flores, so he’s the only focus I have.
“I can’t entertain David at this time. He’s just another fighter I could fight down the line. I’m not entertaining thoughts on anyone else.”
Bellew warned Flores that he won’t have previously faced anyone possessing the the will to win that he has – and the dad-of-three proved it by admitting he can’t even allow his son to beat him at computer games!
He said: “I don’t think many fighters in the world have the same attitude as me.
“I’m not the most talented, or strongest. But I’m mentally very strong and driven.
"I will go to ridiculous lengths to win. I hate to lose. I can’t lose at anything I do.
“I can’t even lose to my 11-year-old son at FIFA. He has to deal with it because I give him an absolute hiding all the time.
“I don’t just beat him by one or two, I give him an absolute whooping every time.
“It drives me and motivates me. It can make me a bit of a nark at times but that’s why I am where I am.”
He added: “I’m taking the threat of BJ Flores very seriously and I know what’s at stake. I’m going out there to get the job done.
“But no opponent has asked [Flores] how far he is willing to go. Everyone I have faced I have asked that question.
“That’s where I think it’s sink or swim time and I’m going to drown him.”
You can hear Tom Latchem’s full interview with Tony Bellew on talkSPORT Extra Time on Saturday morning, and on Listen Again on talkSPORT.com afterwards.