Tony Bellew names the only opponent he ever hated and it is not David Haye

Often vocal, Bellew exploded in several pre-fight build-ups as contest with Nathan Cleverly, Adonis Stevenson, and David Haye threatened to overspill before the first bell even sounded. 

Despite the boasts before battle, Bellew often backed up his words as he enjoyed a lengthy career that saw numerous high-profile wins. 

Failing in his two world title tilts against Cleverly and Stevenson, Bellew finally got it right ay the third time of asking when he stopped Junior Makabu at Goodison Park in 2016 to become WBC cruiserweight champion. 

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That success was followed by further glory as Bellew made the jump to heavyweight for two unforgettable fights with Haye, bouts he won by stoppage as his legacy was further enhanced. 

In his final fight, Bellew was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk when he was looking to become undisputed champion, and that loss was enough to foce him to retire from the sport after achieveing everything he had ever wanted from boxing . 

Looking back on his career, and manty personal fights, did it ever go beyond sport where the Liverpool man had hateful feelings towards any of his rivals? 

“Nathan Cleverly. He looks down his nose at me as if he’s better than me, and he also said some things to me after the fight,” said Bellew when asked the question by StillRyan . 

“He was very respectful, and we shook hands after it, and then he went completely back on it and said the opposite to the press.” 

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