Commonwealth Light-Heavyweight Champion Tony Bellew has told Ovill McKenzie not to expect the same fighter he met last December.
“Bomber” Bellew meets McKenzie again on Saturday 19th February at London’s York Hall in a re-run of their thriller at the Liverpool Echo Arena.
The 28-year-old Liverpudlian was floored in the first and second round before going on to stop the tough former Commonwealth champion in the eighth in one of the domestic fights of the year.
This time there is a lot more at stake with the British title on the line after Bellew’s big rival Nathan Cleverly vacated the belt.
“If McKenzie is expecting the same the fighter that got in the ring with him then he’s in for the shock of his life,” said Bellew.
“I made big mistakes in the first fight and I’ve been kicking myself that I made them, but this time you will see a much smarter and better fighter,”
“It was an exciting fight and I made it exciting by standing and trading with him, but that’s not me and what I’m about,”
“If you’ve got two big punchers in the ring and you stand and trade then one of you is going to come unstuck and that very nearly happened to me,”
“I didn’t win three ABA titles by just standing and trading, I’ve got a good boxing brain and good skills and I’ve got to get back to using them,”
“Don’t get me wrong, I will stand and trade and there will be times I have to do it, but I will do it on my own terms,”
“Brains will overcome brawn this time and you will see the best of Tony Bellew.”
Chief support on the card is Southern Area Heavyweight Champion Larry Olubamiwo defending his title against John McDermott.
2006 Commonwealth Games champion Jamie Cox returns to action at light-middleweight, 2007 World Amateur Champion Frankie Gavin opens his new year campaign.
Ronnie Heffron, Vinny Mitchell, Bradley Skeete, Ahmet Patterson, Billy Morgan and Freddie ‘Luke’ Turner complete the card.
Tickets, priced £40 and £60, are available from Ticketmaster 0844 847 2500 and www.frankwarren.tv