• Boxing

Cleverly tears into 'delusional' Bellew

ESPN staff
September 1, 2011
Tony Bellew attacked Nathan Cleverly at a May press conference © PA Photos
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WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has intensified his war of words with Tony Bellew ahead of their October 15th fight in Liverpool.

The duo have been linked together for a while, both rising through the domestic ranks at a similar time, and they were due to go head-to-head during May, when Bellew stepped in after Jurgen Braehmer withdrew from a fight with Cleverly.

Bellew was unable to make the weight in time to face Cleverly, but he left his mark during an explosive press conference in which he called the Welshman a "f*****g rat". Now they have a chance to settle the score, with the winner poised to face WBO king Bernard Hopkins during 2012.

"Bellew has always been in my shadow," Cleverly told TalkSPORT. "There's been a rivalry brewing over the years. We're in the same weight division and I've always been six fights ahead of him.

"It's inevitable there comes a time when you have to fight and see who's best once and for all. He's made for me. He's the type of opponent I can look good against and I should do really.

"Some fighters are delusional. They actually believe their own hype that they are that good and can do this and that to their opponents. But boxing's not that easy.

"When you're in a ring throwing punches and moving at different angles it can be a difficult night and that's where true champions shine. Talk is cheap."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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