Light-heavyweight star Tony Bellew says using the same training facilities as Everton’s World Cup stars will make him a global force to be reckoned with as well. The Bomber, who makes the first defence of his Commonwealth title on July 3 at The Preston Guildhall, does strength and conditioning work with Everton FC staff at Goodison Park. Although the Premiership side haven’t supplied any players to England’s 23-man squad, a number of other stars – including Tim Howard, Tim Cahill, Steven Pienaar and Yobo Yakubu will be going to South Africa. “It’s a real buzz training at Everton, and everything there from the ground-staff to the boardroom has a massive air of professionalism,” said Bellew..
“I’ve got a programme in place that I believe has improved me 100% since I signed terms as a professional.
“I drive from Liverpool to Manchester to train with Anthony Farnell every morning, then I come down to Everton the afternoon to make sure I am in the best possible shape.
“It’s only in the evening that I give myself time off and see my family.
“As for the players, I see them all the time and they are a great bunch of guys, a real inspiration.
“I’d like to wish them all good luck for the World Cup, except Tim Howard when he plays in goal for the USA against England!”
Bellew, unbeaten in 13 fights with nine knockouts, also revealed that signing pro terms with Frank Warren put an end to his childhood passion – Sunday league football.
“When I was boxing for Great Britain as an amateur I still played for my local team,” said Bellew.
“I was a centre forward and at one point I scored 16 penalties out of 16. But when I put pen to paper with Frank I realised it was too risky to carry on.
“I wasn’t as good at football as boxing anyway – I think I’m born to knock people out rather than kick them in the legs.”
The quality-packed card, headlined by Michael Jennings versus John O’Donnell for the Vacant British Welterweight Champion, will also feature Tony Bellew’s first Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight title defence, rising welterweight hot-shot Ronnie “The Razor” Heffron, former Commonwealth Light-Middleweight Champion Matthew Hall, and Liverpool stars Joe Selkirk and Liam Smith.
Tickets for 3 Lions are priced at £30, £50, £75 and £100 and are available from:
The Preston Guild Hall Box Office
01772 258858 www.prestonguildhall.com
Ian ‘Dappa’ Napa: I’m Ready To Get My Title Back
Thursday – It’s a beautiful sunny day in London, but here we are indoors, at the Ultrachem TKO Gym in Canning Town, East London, to watch former two-time British and European Bantamweight Champion Ian ‘Dappa” Napa going through his final training session before setting off to Peterlee, Tyne & Wear, where he will face Darlington’s Stuart Hall for the vacant British Bantamweight title.
Napa’s coach, Brian Lawrence warns us,”Napa’s focused, he’s so focused now that a bomb could go off and he wouldn’t miss a beat. I tell you I wouldn’t want to be Stuart Hall. As far as Napa’s concerned Hall stands between him and the rematch with McDonnell”
So, if we didn’t know it already, Napa is still fuming over losing his British title by a controversial split decision to Jamie McDonnell in January. Mind you that loss didn’t just cost Napa the British title, it also cost him a European title shot. To add insult to injury, McDonnell side stepped a rematch with Napa, by vacating the British title, and then went on to defeat Frenchman Jerome Arnould for the European title.
This explained why Instead of the usual chirpy, ever smiling Ian Napa we are used to, we get to watch his alter ego train. This Ian Napa is a serious all business like character dedicated to finely honing his immense boxing skills by beating the living hell out a huge Ringside heavy bag. No one utters a word, It’s clear he wants to get his work done, so we wait patiently.
Finally the wait is over, Napa has finished training and has his weight checked by the BBBofC official, who like us waited patiently for him to finish his extended session. The first questions are the obvious ones such as “How’s training been” and “are you ready for Hall” etc to which he answered politely with the ubiquitous fighters reply “I’m looking forward to the fight, I can’t wait until I get in there and get the win.”
After about ten minutes of stock questions and answers it was mentioned that Hall had been making comments that Napa’s time was past, and that it was now his time. The Napa smile came back with a vengeance as he replied, “Talk is cheap, you know what I mean, when we’re in the ring it’ll be my fists that’ll be doing my talking. I’m not bothered about what he’s got to say. I know when I get in there I know what I’ve got to do. He’ll have to take what I give out. All I know is I’m ready to get my title back”
When it was pointed out that Napa´s slick defensive style, often likened to that of Floyd Mayweather, can make his fights hard to score for the ringside judges, Napa quickly responded by saying, “Some of the judges should wake up, take my last fight. I don’t know what fight they were watching but it wasn’t the one I was in. In the round replays, Sky TV couldn’t find one where McDonnell had landed anything. It’s crazy I’m always involved in decisions like these where I’m getting robbed.
Anyway that was then, this is now. My main aim now is to get back the British title first. That’ll get me back on track for the European title and then ultimately going for a World title. I’m not letting anyone get in the way of my goal, not Hall, not McDonnell, not anyone.”
Ian ‘Dappa’ Napa versus Stuart Hall for the vacant BBBofC British Bantamweight title will headline the Frank Maloney promoted event at the Peterlee Leisure Centre in Peterlee, Tyne and Wear on Friday, 4th June. and will be screened live on Sky Sports.
Ali Adams Predicts A Knockout Performance On Saturday Night
This coming Saturday Hammersmith’s Heavyweight contender Ali Adams (8-2-1) steps back into the ring, following a five month hiatus, to face Nottinghamshire’s Mark Lewis at the Hellraiser Promotions event at Grundy Park Leisure Centre in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire.
Adams, who’s looking to extend his current unbeaten run to nine in a row further on Saturday, is confident that he has the power to stop Lewis early and is totally unfazed that the Notts’ man knocked his last opponent out in just 3 rounds.
Speaking following his daily training session at the Ultrachem TKO Gym in Canning Town, East London, Adams said, “I’ve been training for the last two months, me and Johnny (Johnny Eames) have been doing loads of work, so I’m really 100% ready. I’m going for a knockout. I’m going to start fast. I’m going to knock him out in the first round.
I’m very happy now. At the beginning of my career the managers and promoters didn’t treat me right. Now I’m at TKO with Johnny I’m back on track. It’s been five months since my last fight.
That was a lot of pressure for me, you know, I’d only fought a couple of weeks before but I still had to sell a lot of tickets. Right up to the night before the fight I was still collecting the ticket money. That’s too much pressure and it showed. He was a good fighter, but I know I should have won it easily, but because of the pressure didn’t. But still managed to get a draw.
I’m working really hard for my career. I have the support now and want to start moving forward. I want to get to the top. I want to get a World title. Any opportunity that comes to me I’m going to grab it. I’ll take any fight I can get, I’m ready for anyone. I’m confident, I’m young, healthy and strong. I’ve got everything to take me to the top.”
The heavyweight clash between Ali Adams and Mark Lewis is on Mickey Helliet’s Hellraiser Promotions event at the Grundy Park Leisure Centre, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, on Saturday 5th June 2010
For tickets call: Hellraiser Promotions on 0207 388 5999