Fight fans hoping for a mammoth Anthony Joshua vs. Tony Bellew showdown can keep dreaming because it’s simply not on the cards.
In spite of the claims of Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, Bellew isn’t actually interested in meeting AJ in the ring.
Hearn had previously stated that both Bellew and his upcoming opponent, David Haye, wanted to clash with Joshua following their grudge match in London in two weeks’ time.
“They both want Joshua. Bellew wants it as well,” Hearn recently told the Liverpool Echo. “Joshua is the biggest payday potentially in boxing and one thing we know about David Haye is he loves a payday so he’ll be looking for the biggest one out there.”
But Bellew has given short shrift to suggestions that he will hang around at heavyweight in order to face Joshua, who is scheduled to put his undefeated record on the line opposite Wladimir Klitschko in April.
His reason? It’s quite simple really.
“I’m fighting, let’s get it straight, a big cruiserweight, a very small heavyweight,” Bellew said of Haye.
“I’m not big enough [to fight Anthony Joshua], I know I like to kid sometimes and mess around, and I have thought about it – to face the Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko winner. But in all honesty, Anthony is just too big.
“I think he’s a lovely lad as well. I actually admire him, I’m a fan of Anthony Joshua’s.”
Rather than chase the money via an all-British heavyweight fight for the ages, Bellew has revealed that he would be open to offering Haye an immediate rematch after March 4.
“I’m going to be a good man and give ‘Sideshow Bob’ a return once I’ve knocked him out,” Bellew told Sky Sports.
“I’m going to give him a way back, because believe you me, when I beat him on March 4 you are going to hear every excuse possible. From he’s got a sore toe, a broken finger nail, his hair band wasn’t on right.”
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