Bellew: I’m willing to die in the ring against Chilemba

(Photo credit: Wealth TV) By Scott Gilfoid: WBC Silver light heavyweight champion Tony Bellew (19-1, 12 KO’s) defends his WBC strap on Saturday night against challenger Isaac Chilemba (20-1-1, 9 KO’s) in Bellew’s home city of Liverpool at the Echo Arena. Bellew, 30, is seeing this fight in very serious terms and says he’s willing to put his life on the line in order to win the fight.

Bellew said to Sky Sports News “I’m willing to do anything, go to any level. Come Saturday night I’m willing to die in that ring, if so, be it. I’ll do anything to win and that’s the level it’s going…He can’t come to my city and expect to tap me and run away and get a 12-round decision win.”

Oh brother, I think Bellew needs to lighten up a little. He’s getting a little serious and he’s coming across kind of like a ham. Bellew is a little over the top right now. I know the guy wants to win and all, but god lighten up, man. This is a sport, not war.

I hate toe drizzle on Bellew’s parade but Chilemba can beat Bellew by tapping and running away. This is boxing, remember? It’s not about some kind of primitive caveman type fighting from the early 20s. Boxing has advanced considerably since then, and the idea is to hit and not get hit in return. So if Chilemba is able to “tap” Bellew, as he says, that’s fine as long as he’s not getting hit in return.

The problem with Bellew is he’s not very fast, he loads up with everything he throws, and he runs out of gas by the 9th round in his fights. So if Chilemba has boxed circles around the slugger for the first 9 rounds, then I think it’s safe to say that he’s going to win the fight unless we get some questionable judging.

Chilemba will be able to take the last four rounds easily against the tired Bellew. The only thing that Chilemba has to worry about is to make sure he wins five out of the first eight rounds, so that he can sweep the last four by pushing it into overdrive against a tired Bellew. Chilemba has the better stamina, better hand speed, better combinations, and the better talent.