FIGHT NIGHT THREAD - SPOILERS WITHIN!!!

[mobilemaster8]

First topic message reminder :

Evening gents,

anyone sitting up for to nights show in Canada?

Kovalev fight should be a good one and Bellew vs Stevenson has the potential to be a bit tasty!

Discuss and enjoy, ill be having a few cheeky ones when i get back from picking the other half up in 20mins!! MOTD recorded to fill up the BS in between fights.

Although im a Stoke fan so will skip that game

[TRUSSMAN66]

The problem with a cruiser move.........Is he'd be taking on guys who naturally walk around at 210.........Bleed some off and bounce up to 206.........For fight night...

Basically fighting small heavies.......

Not sure where he goes from here...........

Disagree with milky..........You are away from home..........and It's good to gift a least 4 rounds away..........By stinking early.........

Also you are on your feet the whole time so it's your legs that are getting knackered..

You only need 4 rounds to win at home !!!!..........

Give yourself a chance..

[TRUSSMAN66]

Im sure some Liverpool nightclub will employ him as a doorman

You aren't impressing anybody Mate with the cheap stuff.......The guy fought a good champion in his hometown.........

But snigger away.......

[Steffan]

Chisora fought Helenius, Vitali and Haye in their hometown and you cant stand the guy...

[TRUSSMAN66]

Why is that ??

[catchweight]

Bellew was crap. After all his talk about how he never ran and how Stevenson was a midget he basically ran for as long as the fight lasted. Didnt try to use his size, no jab, was never in the fight. Fought like a sparring partner. After the third round when he got bashed up and it was obvious his negative plan wasnt working he should have gone for broke or at least tried to impose himself. Stevensons chin isnt the best but Bellew looked like he was there to just go the distance. Very negative after all his talk.

[Steffan]

Why is that ??

Probably because he is not American

[ONETWOFOREVER]

Im sure some Liverpool nightclub will employ him as a doorman

Could you just imagine it....

''Look you aint getting in ya flucking rat''

[88Chris05]

Never really been convinced that Bellew is good enough to bag a world title (certainly not at 175, anyway), so he doesn't really lose any of his lustre in my eyes.

I don't particularly blame him for going out there with the negative, cagey game plan that he initially did; he was in there with one of the biggest pound for pound hitters in boxing at the moment, and Bellew has been known to be caught cold every now and then. With his ABA titles and decent fundamentals, it's understandable that Bellew from the outset was trying to play the role of counterpuncher.

However, what disappointed me slightly is that, within a couple of rounds or so, it had become painfully obvious that Bellew was just too slow, and Stevenson too quick, for that to ever be a feasible plan. But Bellew just never adapted and showed any willingness to try something new by being the aggressor, or at least trying to hold his ground. The only exception was the fourth, which was actually Bellew's best round by a mile when he started initiating some exchanges at last. Could and maybe should have signalled a new strategy for Tony and a more competitive fight from that point onwards, but instead he just reverted to type in the fifth.

Bellew was so comprehensively outclassed that it's fair to say he just wasn't going to beat Stevenson regardless of what game plan he used, mind you. But while I understand his initial strategy, once more he looked a bit lost when his plan A failed him, and that's a concern I've had over Bellew for a long time now.

Cruiser is such a watered-down division that you can't rule out a title there, I suppose, but I think it's clear what Bellew's level is.

[John Bloody Wayne]

I don't see why Tony's getting so much stick. He could go to war or go on the back foot and be cagey and everything inbetween and the result would be the same. He just isn't good enough to beat a guy like Stevenson. Doesn't have the power, toughness, size, workrate or anything to beat him. So he lost. Don't see anything wrong with the effort itself.

[bhb001]

Bellew has hinted he will be moving up in weight, seems to be blaming the weight loss for his performance.

Cue rematch with Cleverly  

[Lance]

Ever since he signed for matchroom Bellew has fought like a man with everything to lose and nothing to gain. Hearn tried to turn him into a bit of a star but I don't think he quite has it in him. I used to like him and thought he put up a great effort against Cleverly. Maybe a bit unlucky to lose that one. But his mouth seems to be seriously out of synch with his hands. He talks a good fight but usually delivers a bore fest.

[TopHat24/7]

Bellew is decent enough but will never be more than fringe world level contender at best. Nothing bad in that, still an achievement and hopefully enough to get some decent pay days to support his family.

Was outmatched in most, if not all, departments and had little to no chance of winning.

Was less embarrassing than Clev (who's the same level) getting walloped by Kov - speaking of whom, I'd back him to take Adonis out. Adonis has chin question marks and I thought Tony buzzed him. Each of Kov's punches look like they pack serious power, could see him taking out 'Superman' in 6.

[TRUSSMAN66]

Hard to say how outclassed he was.......As he never gave himself a chance.......

Shocking tactics.........

[catchweight]

Bellew was awful. Fought like a sparring partner with hardly any ambition.

[TRUSSMAN66]

I agree.......but It's a bit silly to go into a fight with a big puncher.......With the strategy of backing off exclusively and hoping to come into it in the second half......

I agree he was overmatched.......But he didn't help himself with tactics like that......

[TopHat24/7]

Problem is Clev went in with a big punching LHW with the attitude of taking the fight to him (and defending with his face, not so good) and was made to look silly.

Bellew needed a more authoritative jab to better control the range.

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