• Boxing

Bellew claims Cleverly is running scared

ESPN staff
May 28, 2011
Frank Warren had to keep Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew apart © PA Photos
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Tony Bellew has set his sights on Nathan Cleverly, with the Liverpudlian claiming the WBO light-heavyweight champion is scared of him.

Bellew stepped in at the 11th hour last week to take on Cleverly and the pair were close to trading blows at a press conference. However, Bellew was denied the chance to take on Cleverly as he failed to make the weight.

Cleverly went on to defeat Aleksy Kuziemski and has since set his sights on the veteran Bernard Hopkins. Bellew, though, is keen to persuade promoter Frank Warren to hand him a shot at Cleverly.

"I was told the pay-per-view sales had started to go absolutely crazy after the press conference," Bellew said. "Frank Warren knows the business so he's obviously going to want this fight to happen.

"He knows it is a money-spinner, it's massive, and if you ask me it's got pay-per-view written all over it."

Warren said: "It's obviously a natural fight. I'm seeing Nathan next week and we'll chat about it."

Bellew feels he has a psychological hold over Cleverly, as he said: "He doesn't like me and I don't like him. I genuinely cannot stand the sight of Nathan Cleverly.

"When I see his face I want to punch it. I don't like it. I was close at the press conference.

"He is intimidated by me. Deep down, when he goes to bed, when he closes his door, when he's all alone, Nathan Cleverly is scared of Tony Bellew. I know that."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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