The pair were involved in a slanging match which nearly came to blows at their final head to head press conference. Burly security guards intervened as promoter Frank Warren desperately tried to keep the peace.
Earlier Bellew, a late replacement for Juergen Braehmer, vowed to knock Cleverly out. “Two days notice, two weeks notice or two months notice, I will win,” said the Liverpudlian.
He came into the fight when Braehmer said he had suffered a cut in training on Wednesday. But newly installed WBO champion Cleverly hit back by saying: “Bellew is not on Braehmer’s level. He’s just the Commonwealth champion and I’m going to prove a point.
“I’m fully motivated now and I will put on a good show on Saturday night.”
