Top 55 Tony Bellew Quotes

Fighters like Bernard Hopkins can go on because their style is not based on reflexes and timing.

I just idolise Nigel Benn, the things he said, how ferocious he was, how intimidating he was – I just loved watching him. As I do the old Mike Tyson, the ’89 Mike Tyson. The Tyson who walked to the ring with a white towel on and looked ferocious. He frightened me just watching him.

The one place in the world where I can feel like I’m completely in control, at home, is in a ring.

I want to punch everything and fight the world.

Make no mistake about it: nobody gives you nothing for nothing. You have to work hard to get what you want.

I just want to be left alone.

Getting into character to become ‘Pretty’ Ricky Conlan for the ‘Creed’ film was surreal.

I’ve never chosen the easy route to world titles or the easy route in fights, and I came up short against Stevenson.

I’m not a perfect person – far from it.

I love the sound of a Tyson Fury fight.

People don’t drop me with shots on the temple.

I fear no man. I really don’t.

You will all laugh and say I wouldn’t have a chance, but I would knock Andre Ward out – or I will outbox him. He is a pound-for-pound great, but I can match him on the inside, and he has never fought anyone who could do that.

Usyk could beat me – he’s beaten better than me, so he could beat me – but I just don’t think he will, and I will find a way.

Style makes fights; I’ve always said it.

I will beat Andre Ward. I will knock out Andre Ward. He’s a pound-for-pound king, but I will beat him.

I’ve mixed sparring partners up. I’ve done tons upon tons of rounds with big, heavy lumps who are trying to take my head off.

I’m very lucky because less than one percent of boxers get out of the game financially secure.

What people have to realise is that it’s not the fights that are really hard; it is the training camps. It’s living away from home for 12 weeks. It’s sparring with guys who are told they will get £1,000 cash if they can drop me.

When I left school – or, rather, when I was expelled from school for hitting a kid who had disrespected a teacher – I had nothing, with nowhere to go. Where I’m from, it really means that. Now my family are millionaires. I never dreamed this would be possible.

Anyone can lose a fight. That doesn’t bother me. But the shame that comes afterwards is unbearable.

I know what I am getting into with heavyweights. Not one of them can dictate against me because, firstly, they don’t have feet fast enough. Secondly, while there are far better athletes and stronger fighters than me, even some who are quicker, they don’t have the ring IQ I have. It allows me to dictate.

I just struggle with the fame thing and people thinking I’m something I’m not. I’ll always struggle with that until the day I die, I think.

I guess it’s rare, but even though I come from a broken home, I still believe I have the most amazing father.

I’ve had a fantastic career.

I like hurting people.

I am not a heavy drinker, I’ve never taken a drug in my life, but I am prone to a pizza.

When I’m training, I don’t think about anything else.

I am the best cruiserweight in the world.

Every single time I step into a ring, the same thing is on the line. Take away belts, take away money, take away glamour and fame. Ultimately, I’m fighting for one thing, and that’s my life.

My dad, my missus, my sons, I do it all for them.

Tyson Fury should be looked at as someone who conquered the world, defeating a nine-year king in Wladimir Klitschko.

I had a headache for four days after the first Haye fight. I didn’t tell anyone, I just went to bed and thought it would go. But for four days it remained. Then I got my brain scan before the second fight, and I was worried when I went for it.

David Haye was a better fighter than me, but it’s not about the better fighter because the better fighter does not always win.

I want to cause havoc. I want to cause mayhem – and I mean the worst mayhem you can see.

On May 29 2016, my wildest dreams came true. I became the WBC cruiserweight champion of the world at Goodison Park. The dream location, the dream title, the dream ending, a third-round knockout of Iunga Makabu.

I used to be a light-heavyweight, and I’m much faster than cruiserweight. That’s the reason I didn’t struggle with David Haye’s speed, and David Haye is much quicker than Oleksandr Usyk with one punch and much, much, more destructive with the way he hits.

Some say I’m arrogant, some say I’m deluded.

I love looking back at the older fights; they don’t make them like they used to. Just watching Tommy Hearns, the technique in his punching, the brilliance and the combinations from the likes of Ray Leonard and ‘Sugar’ Ray Robinson.

People wonder why I dislike my opponents. It’s not personal or that I hate them: it’s just that I know what I’ve had to sacrifice to face them.

I’m just a normal fellow who gets punched in the face for a living and gets punched really hard at times as well. But you know what? I’m all right at punching them back.

At age 68, I expect to be strapped to the couch with the remote control like Jim Royle.

I want people to remember me when I retire as a fighter who would fight anyone – that Tony Bellew was scared of no one. I’m happy with that. Anything more is a bonus.

As any fighter does, we all go down. Very few get up. I’ve done it on multiple occasions.

I defy anyone in the world to trade with me.

Boxing is the only thing I have ever understood – I certainly don’t understand women.

I’ve earned every single thing that I’ve got.

No matter what happens, I’ll never be the greatest cruiserweight. That title belongs to Holyfield.

Usyk is less of a puncher than Lomachenko but comes with just as high a work rate, so Usyk has to take some to give some to be exciting, whereas Lomachenko has genuine power, and he can stop fighters with that power.

The Isaac Chilemba fight was draining.

I was hoping David Haye would beat the fight out of me in the second fight.

I’m from the street. We all know that.

The speed and timing go with age.

Everyone knows I get off the floor, and I fight until the finish.

There will be no more fighting from me. The only things you will see me doing from here on in is trying to act sensible and behave myself.