Heavy-handed Tony “Bomber” Bellew has promised to turn into a modern day Dambuster – and KO German bad-boy Juergen Braehmer. Bellew challenges for his first title on March 12 at the Liverpool Echo Arena, against undefeated Ghanaian Atoli Moore live on Sky Sports 1. The Commonwealth light-heavyweight title is on the line – the same belt that his hero John Conteh once held – and the scouser is hoping to gatecrash into the WBO top 10 with victory in the fight. That’s because the unbeaten 27-year-old has already got his sights set on WBO champion Braehmer..
The southpaw has already planned a reconnaissance mission for April 24 in Hamburg when Braehmer defends his title against Mariano Nicolas Plotinsky when he will be ringside.
But his ultimate goal is to share a ring with Braehmer within 18 months.
“I want to shoot down Braehmer by the end of 2011,” stormed Bellew.
“If I get him it will be like Dambusters all over again.
“I’m just like a Lancaster Bomber, I’m a classic fighter like the old days – just like John Conteh. Braehmer will get well and truly blown out of the water.
“It would be a great shoot out because Braehmer’s got a fantastic KO record and looks like a decent puncher.
“But I want to test myself against the best and Braehmer’s would be a great test.”
Tickets for ‘The Pride of Merseyside’ are priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £200 and are available from:
Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office
0844 8000 400
www.echoarena.com
See Tickets
0871 2200 260
www.seetickets.com
Fight Great Conteh Escorts Tony Bellew Into Battle!
Tony Bellew will get a helping hand when he challenges for the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title – from British great John Conteh. Former WBC World Light-Heavyweight Champion Conteh has agreed to accompany Bellew on his ringwalk at the Liverpool Echo Arena on March 12. The bout will be screened on Sky Sports 1 along with Paul Smith’s British Super-Middleweight title defence against Tony Dodson and Kell Brook’s WBO Intercontinental Welterweight title defence and World title eliminator against Krzysztof Bienias.
Bellew will tackle unbeaten Ghanaian Atoli Moore in his first championship fight, and is made up that his big hero Conteh will be part of his entourage.
The Liverpool legend won the Commonwealth title in 1973 before making two successful defences.
Conteh, now 58, went on to claim the WBC world title as well.
“I grew up watching Conteh fights on video,” said Bellew.
“To say that he was one of my heroes is a bit of an understatement. I practically worshipped him, and for me he is one of the best fighters to have come out of the UK.
“I was chuffed to bits when he said some nice things about me when I turned professional, but to have him walk to the ring with me in a title fight is a dream come true.
“It’s an honour to be fighting for one of his old titles, and I promise that I’ll do him proud and win with a spectacular KO.
“John also won the British and European titles, and I want those as well.
“Nathan Cleverly is holding onto those at the moment, but in the next couple of years I can see us getting it on when when we are both holding world titles.
“The fight has to be built up and people are talking about it more now. As long as I keep winning and win a world title and he remains unbeaten and wins a world title as well, I can see this fight being the size of Nigel Benn-Chris Eubank clash that the whole of Britain will want to see.
“But more than anything else I want to match John’s acheivements at world level.
“I’ll be having a chat with him before the Moore fight, and listening very carefully to any advice that he gives me.”
Tickets for ‘The Pride of Merseyside’ are priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £200 and are available from:
Liverpool Echo Arena Box Office
0844 8000 400
www.echoarena.com
See Tickets
0871 2200 260
www.seetickets.com