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Cleverly camp threatens to pull out of Bellew contest

Tony Bellew recently headbutted Nathan Cleverly © PA Photos

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Nathan Cleverly's camp have warned Tony Bellew to stop his backers getting out of control otherwise the October 15 showdown will be called off.

Cleverly and Bellew have long shared bad blood and are scheduled to finally collide at the Liverpool Echo Arena in a month's time. Bellew will have a strong following in his home town as he attempts to win the WBO light-heavyweight belt.

However, Cleverly has been angered by a series of episodes that have seen Bellew lose his temper. In May, when the pair were first supposed to meet, Bellew had to be restrained after launching a tirade that finished with him calling Cleverly a "f*****g rat".

Then, at a stormy press conference on September 7, the Liverpudlian headbutted Cleverly, stating: "Cleverly just got a bit too close to my face so I butted him. I won't have any of that rubbish. I intimidate him and he is trying to come across like I don't. If he comes too close I will punch his face right in."

Following on from that incident, Bellew's supporters angered Cleverly's father Vince, with police required to extinguish the chaos after what was supposed to be a meeting to calm the rivalry. Now the Cleverly camp are warning they will settle for no more interferences.

"If Tony wants this fight in Liverpool he better behave himself or it will be off. Nathan won't fight him in Liverpool," said Vince.

"The guy kept staring me out and calling me a w*****. I'm a trainer, what is an outsider like him doing here causing trouble? He's going to cost Bellew a lot of money because the fight is not going to be in Liverpool."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.