Hand trouble and cryogenics to repair a rib ailment hampered Bellew’s preparations, although it didn’t stop ‘The Bomber’ from producing an amazing third round onslaught to obliterate a dangerous opponent in Ilunga Makabu.
“It was the worst camp I ever had. Boxers say how they had a brilliant camp and whatever. But this was awful,” said Bellew.
“I was in a hyperbaric chamber on oxygen four weeks ago. I had detached a rib. I was fucked. I was travelling back and forth to Sheffield after two hours of treatment every morning and then sparring.”
Upon revealing his uphill battle just to be in the ring, Bellew then turned his attention to a possible defence of his title against ex-unified champion and now heavyweight contender David Haye.
Haye, 35, recently return to action following a four-year hiatus to score two easy victories and told WBN earlier this year that he would be up for fighting Bellew at 200 pound plus. Bellew stated that he would want Haye to boil back down to cruiserweight for any impending clash as he now holds the marbles at the lower limit.
“You’ve gone long enough fighting those clowns. I just beat the best cruiserweight in the world, I’m the best now,” Bellew announced.
“I’m the best, I don’t care what they all say. Denis Lebedev, I’m not coming to Russia. Come and get this, baby, because I’ve got the main belt now.
“I’m the man to beat in this division, come and get this,” he added.
