“Tony can have a dream about fighting in this stadium because he is a fan of the club and because he was in the movie to become world champion, but this is my time”.
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Bellew, who starred in the latest Rocky movie previous year, was twice beaten in cracks at the world light-heavyweight title but insists he will be a different force at the higher weight against South Africa-based Congo-born Makabu, who has KO’d 18 of his 19 victims.
Bellew, 33, couldn’t have planned a first world title victory better as it’s being held at the home of his much-loved Everton.
It was arranged for Bellew to fight again at Goodison, this time for real against Congo fighter Makabu, and the result was the same.
‘The last time I saw that was in a Hollywood film Michael Buffer was here tonight!’
The Everton supporter – in front of his own fans at Goodison Park – was floored by the Congolese fighter in round one but came back with a flurry of punches in the third which pinned his opponent against the ropes.
Both men adopted a more circumspect approach in the second round, both bleeding from their noses after trading hefty blows.
He said: “I will fight anyone”.
However, that cagey opener sprung into life when a ferocious left hand by Makabu put Bellew on the canvas, but he rose early to take a count of eight and the bell saved him from a potential first round disaster.
“My son has never been to a fight”.
A combination of left hooks, followed by a damaging right left Makabu out cold on his feet, to the delight of the Goodison faithful. The 27-year-old southpaw is set up to ruin a fairy-tale and, ahead of Sunday, the bookies have backed him to do just that.
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“I’ll fight that bitch from Bermondsey as long as he gets down to his natural weight and he knows what his natural weight is – his real weight, because he’s a cruiserweight, there are no two ways about it. Denis Lebdedev, he came come and get it”. “I’m flying to Scotland for the Ricky Burns fight and the very next day will be in Liverpool for Tony Bellew’s Cruiserweight title challenge – and I am at both weigh-ins too!” (Picture: Getty) After two title defeats, Bellew finally became world champion.
