CardPlayer sat down with former boxing world champ and keen poker player Tony “The Bomber” Bellew. He revealed his dream poker opponent and which high hands he’s prone to go all in with.
He also spoke about his Boxing career and the current events in the sports.
On Poker
Card Player: Do you have a particular poker memory from your career that sticks out?
Tony Bellew: I’ve had aces and lost. That sticks with me. I’ve had aces when I’ve been all in and lost, which is very frustrating. But I do enjoy playing when I get the chance to play.
So I’m not someone who gambles lots, but I enjoy playing with my friends and stuff like that. I wouldn’t know how it would be if I were to play for high stakes, but I’d be willing to give it a go.
CP: And if there’s anyone you could play heads up with, maybe a pro poker player or celebrity?
TB: Phil Ivey without a doubt. He was amazing, wasn’t he? I’ve got a couple of mates who play competitively. Danny Myers is a good friend of mine. Terence Etim is also a good friend of mine, and they’re top poker players in the UK.
On All Things Boxing
CP: Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn gave us one of the fights of the year, if not, one of the fights of the decade. People compared it to a modern-day Haggler vs Hearns. That’s not blowing it out of proportion is it?
TB: I told everyone who would listen, “This fight cannot disappoint. It will be an unbelievable fight.” It was like putting a chemical equation together, it can’t do anything but explode.
When you put certain chemicals together, you know what’s gonna happen. And for me, Chris Eubank Jr is an okay boxer but is a better fighter than he is a boxer. When he’s pushed and pushed, he’ll revert to fighting. Which he did on the night. And Conor Benn only knows one way and when you put them two equations together, you was always gonna get a good fight. They could fight 10 times only, it’d be 10 Great fights. I think the results could differ and change between them. It was a really good fight. Don’t get me wrong, I think the right man won on the night. I’m obviously a good friend of Conor Benn. But I do think Eubank Jr deserved to win. I felt it was level going into Round 10, but in those last two rounds, Eubank Jr came strong with his experience. I don’t wanna say he didn’t win the fight because of size, but he kind of just over ran him in the last two rounds. He pushed him back. He walked him back. He got on his chest. He landed his shot. Then he just walked back. And it’s so hard to keep a bigger man off you. I felt it myself over the years.
CP: The atmosphere was electric. When Chris Eubank Sr walked out of the car, the place just went crazy.
TB: It was theatre of the highest level. It was unbelievable. I’m so happy that his dad’s back in his life. Every son needs his father. So I’m happy that they’re back together. Fair play to Conor Benn for going the distance and not backing down. The two of them have grown from this experience. And the two reputations have also grown, so fair play to both fighters. And commiseration to Conor, he fought his heart and gave everything. You’ve gotta understand that everyone thought he was gonna get blown away, he was going up against a career middleweight. Going up two weight divisions in one night, and gave it everything he possibly had. And he hurt Chris Eubank Jr a number of times.
CP: Afterwards, Eubank said: “There was never a point in the fight where I felt I was losing. I never felt outgunned, he never hurt me.” Do you believe that?
TB: That’s just fighting talk. In that third round, he’s clearly stunned. He gets hit with the shot. I’d say Chris Eubank Jr’s greatest asset is his offense. When he lets his shots go and lets his hands go, he’s got really good attacking abilities. But his defense isn’t great.
And when he started letting his hands go, which he did in that third round, he didn’t see the shot come from Conor. And it’s always the shot you don’t see coming. That right hand over the top. And he was rocked heavily and again in the fifth he was rocked. No one’s ever been in a boxing ring and not been hurt. Nobody.
CP: Do you think we’ll see Conor Benn back down at 147? Do you think he’ll be tempted by the rematch if he can get Chris Eubank Jr to accept it? Where does he go?
TB: I think both have got many options. Both have got an awful lot of options in front of them. It’s just down to them and what they choose, what their options will be. I do think they’ll face each other again. The rematch is too lucrative to step away from. But there’s a number of fights for both. I’d say Mario Barrios for Conor Benn. I know Erislandy Lara’s there for Eubank Jr. Billy Joe Saunders is there for Chris Eubank Jr.
He’s got a number of options. Got Canelo on the table. How viable that is? I don’t know, but it’s a ridiculous match if it’s ever made. I just think at this stage in their career. They’re both at a similar level. Conor’s young. He’s gonna progress. He’s gonna land the experience. But Chris Eubank Jr is coming more to the back end of his career now.
CP: Do you think Chris Eubank Jr could walk away? He made lots of money from that fight and although there is more money to be made, it must have been draining having to cut all of that weight.
TB: He deserves it. And he’s earned it when it comes to money. He’s a middleweight. I don’t know where this big thing is that he’s struggling at middleweight, struggling to make weight. I remember the day he sat there and said, ‘I can make anything from light middle to super middle.’ And said he would beat anyone from 154 all the way to 168. I must admit weight is harder to make as you get older and he isn’t getting any younger.
But he showed huge amounts of balls in that fight. To come back the way he did and win the last two rounds. He fought like his life was on the line. He did not stop. He gave it everything he had. I’m not his biggest fan, but I take my hat off and I give him all the credit in the world. He showed massive amounts of desire, massive amounts of bravery to come through what he came through. So yeah, I take my hat off to him.
CP: More recently, Rolly Romero upset the odds against Ryan Garcia. Does he have to go back to the drawing board now?
TB: I thought Teofimo Lopez stole the show. Thought he was fantastic. He was the best of a bad bunch. I still think Teofimo is good. As for Devin Haney, no he was not. And as for Ryan Garcia, just wow. I saw a clip with Timothy Bradley, who I respect immensely and he said that these fights are made soft because of the money.
And I felt it was a bit of hating from Timothy Bradley. Now, it’s nothing to do with money, because when you get in the ring, no one’s thinking about the money. I wasn’t like that as a fighter and I’ve never come across a fighter who does. It’s all about the money until the contract is signed.
Once it’s agreed, the money’s no longer a factor. When you get in that boxing ring. It’s man vs man. You don’t think about the money, you don’t think about the prize. And I didn’t like that from Tim Bradley because I just thought it was wrong. And you’re having a pop and talking about the low punch outputs.
It’s quite simple. Styles make fights. It’s always been the case. Don’t deviate away from that in boxing. Styles will and always have made fights. When you’ve got the likes of Skull vs Canelo and he doesn’t want to know! He’s not gonna meet Canelo in the middle of the ring. He’s not good enough to do that and he’s not strong enough, so why is he gonna do it? He’s gonna fight to his best attributes.
Which is on the back foot with plenty of movement. Rolly Romero, it’s similar to him. He’s gonna fight it for his best attributes. I just don’t like the way everyone’s jumping on the bandwagon now. I’ve seen Oscar De La Hoya doing it as well. There’s not a fighter who’s ever lived being a world champion, who’s not been in a bad fight. Everyone has been in a bad fight at some point. Ultimately, you’re gonna get either a mandatory or you’re gonna try and win a world title. You’re pushing on in the contender slot or you’re fighting an eliminator.
I fought a guy called Isaac Chilemba, he was a nightmare to fight. He was so quick but so negative with the way he fought. He just didn’t want to know. I fought Nathan Cleverly in a rematch. He didn’t want, went on the back foot. Two dreadful fights. Now it takes two to tango. So I feel for some of these fighters, I feel for Canelo, I feel for Devin Haney, but you’ve also got to take some responsibility yourself.
You’ve got to press the fight. I pressed against Nathan Cleverly in the rematch. I pressed the fight the whole night. I walked forward. He just didn’t wanna know. I can’t force him to fight. He just wanted to survive. It was the same against Isaac Chilemba, but I got on his chest the whole night. Just bullied him and beat him in the rematch. This is what you have got to do as a fighter, it might not be pretty, it might not look good, but you’ve just gotta find a way sometimes.
CP: Do you think Ryan Garcia had his eye on the rematch with Devin Haney going into that fight against Rolly Romero?
TB: Listen, to be totally honest, I don’t know where Ryan Garcia’s head is at, full stop. But some of the ludicrous things he comes out with, it bewilders me at times. People lose me at times with what they’re saying. So listen, I’m all for the mental health check with fighters, but I’ve seen fighters come out with racist shouts. I’ve seen fighters come out saying all kinds of nonsense, I don’t like it. Nothing to do with money. They’ve gotta be sanctioned and dealt with for some of the things they say or some of the things they do. And that’s just the way it goes.
CP: You said before that Garcia has the best left hook, who has the best right hook?
TB: Daniel Dubois’ is up there. His right hand is an extremely dangerous shot. He’s very powerful. Naoya Inoue is another one. But for the one shot, Daniel Dubois’ right hand is probably the most deadly right hand in boxing. It is devastating. But he’s got to believe in himself more, in my opinion.
CP: Do you think everyone is seeing a different Daniel Dubois now?
TB: I do think he’s massively improved. I think he came of age against AJ. I just think, against Jarrel Miller he showed that he can come through tough moments.
Jarrell Miller wasn’t active enough and Jarrell Miller doesn’t punch hard enough. He’ll come across a completely different skill set every time. Dubois’ been in there with him already and we all know what happened last time. I don’t hear this stuff about low blows. It’s called a protector for that reason. If you hit the protector, guess what? It’s low. As long as the protector’s in the right place where it always is with Usyk.
You can do all the video editing you want, I’ve fought him. I know what he’s like. The guy hasn’t got a cheating bone in his body. The protector’s always on point. And ultimately that shot was low. I don’t care what anyone says. And even if the referee said that it was okay, Usyk would have got up. He’s played the shot and he’s got every right to, but for me, it’s low. But if that referee starts counting, he’s up. He ain’t staying on the floor for no one. If Dubois genuinely thinks that was a legal shot, then why didn’t he go out there and finish it.
He may have thought it was low and didn’t go for the body himself. It may have been natural instincts and Daniel Dubois has got natural finishing instincts as well. So it’s amazing that he never pressed it.
CP: Usyk seems so calm and laid back about the fight, do you think there is any way that Dubois can get under his skin?
TB: No one’s getting under his skin. Did you try to before your fight? No. Because he told me he couldn’t speak any English, so he played an absolute blinder. He understands perfect English to be honest and nobody has been in his head, but it’s too late now. I couldn’t speak highly enough of him. He’s the best fighter in the world for me. He’s pound-for-pound number one.
He’s smart and he appears in places you don’t expect him to be, he says things you don’t expect him to say. He’s a maverick. Nobody has done what he’s done before. No one’s seen what he’s doing before. No one can explain how this man is beating people.
And he’s not just beating them. He’s nearly stopping them. He’s beating them up. He’s just pushed a man who’s about three or four stone heavier than him and four to five inches bigger than him. And bullied him for a whole fight. It makes no sense, we don’t know how he’s doing this, but he’s doing it. Like I said, he’s a maverick. He’s the best fighter in the world.
CP: Terrence Crawford was at ringside licking his lips ahead of his mega-fight in September with Canelo. You’ve tipped Bud to win that and I can imagine you’re even more confident of that now?
TB: Of course, with age, everyone gets a little bit slower, the reflexes. He’s an exceptional fighter, Canelo. But the way that everyone would think is. Weight classes exist for a reason and they’re thinking Bud’s going up too much.
Bud’s actually big. Terence Crawford’s a big dude. I’ve been around him. I know. And he’s a brilliant fighter, technically very adaptive. He can do it all, he has got power. The Errol Spence fight tells you everything you need to know. The Errol Spence fight was unbelievable. And Errol Spence is a seriously, physically strong guy with power.
Errol Spence is a modern-day Marvin Hagler, he was a force to be reckoned with and he brushed Errol Spencer aside that he was nothing. And bullied him. Once again, I predicted that fight. I said he’d stop Errol Spence late. No one saw that coming. It’s just styles make fights so much and Errol likes to wait and be powerful.
Canelo likes to wait. It has to be all at Canelo’s rate and pace. He’s not gonna get that way with Terence Crawford. I just think Crawford will outwork him and will potshot him. And I think he will win on points. I get why Canelo is the favorite, but all good things come to an end. And by the way, if I’m wrong and Canelo does defeat Terence, and he’s the first man to beat him, he deserves so much credit. I will give him all the credit in the world because no one’s been able to figure out Terence Crawford yet.
CP: Jake Paul fighting Julio Cesar, Chaz Jr. Son of a legend.
TB: Yeah, he is, but let’s be honest, he’s not living the life. He’s already lost to an MMA guy in Anderson Silver. He’s not taking it seriously. He’s not taken it seriously, for a while. He’s nowhere near that size naturally. He was middleweight at one stage as well. I think it was Martinez. He pushed and he dropped him three times in the final round. What a fight that was.
Jake Paul ain’t making matches to lose. Whoever Jake Paul’s fighting, he’s going to beat. There’s a reason why he doesn’t want to go anywhere near Carl Froch. There’s a reason why he isn’t facing Tommy Fury. He would get more money fighting Carl Froch or Tommy Fury than he ever would facing Anderson Silva.
Because everyone knows how the Silva fight is gonna go. No one knows how the Tommy Fury fight would go. And don’t be ridiculous in thinking he’s got a chance against people if he picks the right fights He’s fighting grandads. Which is just wrong. It’s just wrong on every level.
But listen, I do think he’s improving, I do think he’s getting better. There’s no point in lying and putting the kid down. He’s getting better. I’ll say he does put the odd rounds in. I just think it’s all about matchmaking to these guys. I’d like to see him fight JJ, KSI. I think KSI has so much ability athletically as a specimen. If he’s taught correctly. I think he’ll be the best at the MisFits bunch. Don’t get me wrong, Ty Mitchell is on another level. Ty Mitchell will end up being the best fighter MisFits has ever had. YoMitchell’s exceptional. Mitchell is a brilliant fighter. I know because I had him in for sparring, and he’s a very good fighter. Trust me, he will go somewhere.
CP: It’s a shame about KSI pulling out of the fight with Dillon Danis.
TB: It is, and I like JJ. I like what they all do because me kids love them. I don’t really know much about the YouTube guys. I don’t know the most, but I do respect them and I do think they are doing brilliant things. I just didn’t like the Jake Paul thing and the Mike Tyson stuff.
CP: Badou Jack wants a piece of Jake Paul as well.
TB: Badou’s not getting any younger. He’s 40 now. I’m 42.
CP: Not looking bad for it though
TB: Listen, I hope I do, to be honest, been in some hard fights. But he’s a brilliant fighter Badou, he’s been in some really hard fights mate, I mean that last win last time is a big win for him. He’s gonna want a big money fight. Fair play to him.
CP: Romford Bull Johnny Fisher, rematching, Dave Allen. That’s the one we’re already looking forward to in the next couple of weeks, isn’t it?
TB: Looking forward to that. I think Dave’s a problem. Dave Allen’s a problem for anyone. Especially if you don’t take him seriously. If you think you’re gonna blow him away and get rid of him and you’ve got another thing coming. He’s got knowledge. He’s got IQ and in-ring knowledge where he can survive with anyone. He takes a really good shot. Very durable. But listen, that could go just any moment. That durability, as we saw with Joe Joyce, once it goes it’s gone.
Dave’s took a lot of bangs made, he’s taken off a lot of bangs. So I think Johnny Fisher will get rid of him this time. I think he’ll be more patient. He’ll base it off of a strong jab. Look to dictate, not look to commit too much early doors. And then I think he looked to come strong in the backstretch. But never write Dave Allen off. Dave Allen’s a strong, tough competitor. He deserves an awful lot of respect, lots of ups and downs in his career. So I like Dave. He’s a good guy, but I just think Johnny Fisher will be too much on the night.
CP: Is Moses Itauma the biggest rising star of British boxing at this point in time?
TB: He’s the biggest. He’s the future. He’s the future, that boy. I always thought it might be a size that holds him back, but he’s good enough. Oleksandr Usyk has shown size isn’t as much. He’s a boy. I see that one. I love what Nick Ball’s done, what he’s been able to achieve. He’s obviously established now.
CP: Is there anyone on the undercard of Eubank vs Benn that caught your eye?
TB: Oh, listen, that kid McKenna. Aaron McKenna. He’s a good fighter. He’s a good fighter. Liam, he’s past his best, but it doesn’t matter. McKenna, his work rate. He didn’t lay down. He didn’t stop. He kept going. He’s a good fighter.
CP: Thoughts on Moses Itauma Vs Mike Balogun, on the undercard of Josh Taylor?
TB: Is that a step backward after what he did to Marusz Wach? He’s a valuable fighter, he will be managed well. He will be looked after. Frank’s got a reputation for how he builds his fighter. So you’ve just gotta say fair play. He builds them up. He builds ‘em up and he won’t throw you to the wolves unless he is 100% certain you can win. It’s very rare he lets his fighters off the leash and they’re not ready.
CP: I saw you were campaigning for Stockbridge ABC
TB: That was the first gym I ever sparred at. I only boxed at two gyms, Stockbridge and Rotunda. Once I worked in Rotunda, there was nowhere else that was the same for me.
Everything else was different, but I started Stockbridge ABC with Mark Kenny and Smogger, brilliant people. Me and Jonesy, Peter Jones used to train together all the time. Good fighters. Rocky Fielding was in there, good kid. Gary Wilson, Spenner. Great gym and I’m happy they’ve come to a resolve.
I was furious when I found out. I was very angry. The council farm Stockbridge ABC, Stockbridge Village kind of thing. There’s not much going on in that little village. Besides that boxing gym. It saved so many lives, so they could not ever let that gym go away. What are they going to do, turn it into absolutely nothing, crush it and knock it down? Keep it for the kids and as a place to go in the community. They;done that. So well done.
CP: Did you play in the Jack Wilshire Golf open?
TB: No, I couldn’t get that. I was working, so I couldn’t get that. I wanted to and he invited me but I just couldn’t get that. I was working.
CP: But the handicap’s still going in the right direction?
TB: It’s gone up a little bit yesterday, so yeah, thanks very much. I’m 20, not 19.8. I’m 20 now, so I’m furious. I didn’t play a good game the other day, so it’s gone up now.
CP: As an Everton fan, how has it been around Liverpool the last few weeks with obviously Liverpool winning the league?
TB: They got what they deserve, simple as that. The one thing you can’t do is fluke league over 38 games. They’ve been immense this season. They deserve to win it, fair player, I tip my hat to them. And Celtic have done absolutely fantastic in the Scottish League this season.
CP: Did you see some Evertonians bought a load of blue flares and changed the labels to red and handed them out?
TB: Listen, it’s top-notch shithousery of the highest level, it’s brilliant. It’s banter between the clubs. I’m a Scouser before I’m a football fan. I love where I’m from, I’m proud of my city. My wife’s side of the family are all Reds. My side of the family, my part family are Blues, dad’s a Red, me wife’s a red, but they deserve it. My little nephew plays for them. When he’s in that squad and on that pitch I’m willing to do well, I just wanna see him thriving and achieve his full potential, which he’s probably going to do at that club as well.
CP: Quickfire round – fights have never happened. Can we get predictions?
1. Prince Naseem Hamed and Juan Manuel Márquez
TB: Oh wow. You know what, I’m going for a Naseem Hamed KO. But do you know what, prime for prime, people won’t like this but Juan Manuel Márquez in my opinion, is probably the third greatest counter puncher ever in boxing.
I’d say Floyd Mayweather, Purnell Whitaker, and then I would say it’s Juan Manuel Márquez, followed by Canal Alvarez. The thing with being accountable is you need someone to lead off first. Nas was never gonna lead off. And also, Juan Manuel Márquez was vulnerable. Naseem Hamed was unbelievable.
Absolutely unbelievable. And was defeated only by a true great in Marco Antonio Barrera, a true great. So I’m picking Nas. I think he might’ve caught Juan Manuel Márquez and I think he’s one of the greatest finishes this country’s ever seen. I’m a big Nas fan. I’m a big Nas fan. Some of the wins he has in his career are well-overlooked.
The Vuyani Bungu win was massive. The Augie Sanchez win was massive. The Steve Robinson win was massive. He smashed his way through everyone. He was unbelievable. I say people like to harp on he came short with Marco Antonio Barrera, and so did many others.
_2. Calzaghe Vs Froch _
TB: Both are great guys. Carl’s me mate. I get on with Frochy, but he’d never beat Joe Calzage. Not a chance. He’s not stopping Carl. It would take a lot to stop Carl. But he’s not beating Joe Calzaghe, I’m sorry.
3. James Toney Vs Chris Eubank Sr.
TB: Are you serious? James Toney was on another level. James Toney all day. You understand, these boys were never going near James Toney. Chris and Nigel knew all about James Toney and Roy Jones Jr. Just stay away. There are reasons why we have managers and promoters. I’ve gone against two Ring magazine champions and been spank twice. In Olekandr Usyk and Adonis Stevenson. Monsters. And they were on another level. James Toney is possibly one of the most naturally gifted fighters boxing has ever seen. He’s definitely in the top five, 10 of naturally talented fighters.
What he could do in a boxing ring, it was just unbelievable. His ability is just phenomenal.
CP: Do you think Toney deserves more recognition?
TB: People who don’t understand boxing don’t know as well as I do. James Toney is like a freak. He’s unbelievable. It’s Roy Jones Jr’s greatest-ever win, beating a prime James Toney. And Roy Jones to me is the greatest fighter who ever lived.
4. Miguel Cotto Vs Ricky Hatton
TB: Oh, that’s a great fight. Ricks me mate, I absolutely love Rick. I don’t think he beats Miguel Cotto. Miguel Koto is a monster. He’s the second-greatest Puerto Rican fighter ever. And I understand the kind of level of fights I’m talking about, unbelievable. From Benitezes to Felix Trinidads the list is endless. Don’t get me wrong, I think Felix Trinidad was not better than Miguel Cotto, but he had a better career and that’s why I rank him above the win.
The win over De la Hoya is just unbelievable. I don’t really like looking at fighters and looking at the back end of their careers cause they always stay too long. They overstay their welcome all the time. So I don’t really count them. That’s why I say Roy Jones Jr is the greatest ever. If Jones Junior was to walk away after beating John Ruiz, he would, without question never doubt be known as the greatest fighter ever.
But because he stays around too long. People shouldn’t always remember the end of their careers. This is why Muhammad Ali is the greatest man to put on boxing gloves. That win in Saia against George Foreman in ‘67. That is the greatest victory of any boxer at any moment. At any point. That was the greatest victory ever. He was written off by everybody.
He thought he was going there to be killed. Like a sacrificial lamb. He’d knocked out Norton, he’d knocked out Frazier. Who’d both beat Ali. And he went there and destroyed Geroge Foreman. And he’d done it in a way that no one ever thought possible. If he’d have told the world he was going to let Geroge Foreman punch him so many times, he’s going to get tired before the fight. Wow. He’s the greatest human being that has probably ever walked the Earth.
