• Light-heavyweight

Bellew ready for trench warfare

Tony Bellew will go to great lengths to beat Isaac Chilemba this weekend © PA Photos

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After weighing-in a pound heavier than Isaac Chilemba, Tony Bellew has vowed to go into the trenches to get the job done in their official final eliminator for the WBC light-heavyweight title.

Bellew tipped the scales at 174lbs and he has been making positive noises for weeks. The talking will now stop as the pair put the finishing touches to their clash at the Echo Arena, but Chilemba will have strong words ringing in his ears.

Bellew, who refused to shift his gaze from Chilemba, said: "I am so close to that world title that I am ready to go into the trenches."

The Liverpudlian feels he will be tested by Chilemba, as he added: "I know that at some point in this fight I am going to have to go to the wall. I already know what it takes to go there - he doesn't. I don't think he contemplates how hard this fight is going to be.

"Every fight I'm in from now is a must-win fight. I'm No. 1 with the WBC now and I've worked hard to get to that position, so I'm nearly where I want to be and I cannot afford to slip up against Isaac. It's not just the pressure I put on myself that's on the line, the shot at Chad Dawson is the ultimate goal but I've got a family of three to feed and I've got to win, I have to, and whichever way I have to do it I will do."

Bellew will have the crowd on his side in Liverpool and feels it will be a shock to Chilemba's system.

He said: "I'm going to hurt him, it's as simple as that - I'm bringing him pain. He knows he cannot come to Liverpool and run and try to steal a decision, he has to come here and fight and he's going to have to do that in front of 10,000 Scousers going crazy."

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