Tony Bellew: How Luck & Superstitions Steered My Career

This week, ex-world champion Tony Bellew sat down with Owen Fulda from Card Player to talk about how luck and superstitions helped his Boxing career.

Bellew doesn’t keep his cards close to his chest. He opens up about how professional Boxing analysts throughout his career got their predictions wrong and how being an underdog motivated the man from Merseyside.

Owen Fulda: I wanted to ask you about superstitions. Did you have any during your career, or other things you did before the match?

Tony Bellew: I’d always put the left glove on first because in my tiny little mind and thoughts I was going to hit him with the left hand first. So I’d wrap the left hand fist then put the left glove on first. Left boots on first. Always left foot first. I just think your left hand is the most important hand for an orthodox fighter. The lead hand is always the most important. It sets up everything on offense and defense. It’s just huge. For me the jab is the greatest weapon in boxing.

Owen Fulda: Did you ever pay much attention to boxing analysts predicting the outcome of your fights during your career?

Tony Bellew: No. Because they’d usually pick against me. So no, not really. It’s background noise. You would hear it in the build-up to big fights. You would always hear people’s opinions. It’s usually a member of your team who lets you know and will say, ‘Oh, did you hear what this guy said? Did you hear what that guy said? Did you hear what he predicted?’

Whether you choose to let that affect you or whether you choose to let the noise in the room get to you, then that’s up to you. Each individual is different. For me, I’ve fought my life on proving people wrong, and it was no different with this.

Owen Fulda: Did you enjoy being the underdog?

Tony Bellew: It just motivated me. In life, in general, people put me down and I’m used to it. And where I come from, you’re constantly down. So, you know, you’ve got to fight against something every day. So whether I was fighting to prove people wrong. Whether I was fighting against other people’s opinions, I’m always fighting against something. I think when everything’s going for you, it’s at that stage then where you have to worry a little bit. You know, you need your detractors; you need your haters or whatever you want to call them.

They help motivate you if you’ve got people who don’t like you, and got people who don’t like what you’re doing. Then you know, you’re going to find, most of the time, you’re doing something right. Because people don’t like success, that’s just a cold, hard fact. People don’t like success. I think your success lets people know what they could have been and should have been had they put the work in like you did. They applied themselves. Other people’s success targets other lesser people’s inadequacies.

Whereas, for me, someone like me, I was always striving. I didn’t care what anyone else was doing. You know what, you are good for you. I’m happy for you, but I’m doing what I’m doing. And whatever I’m doing, that’s all I’m focused on. That’s all I cared about. I didn’t have time to focus on anyone else.

Bellew also continued with the second part of the interview to speak about the future of Joe Joyce’s career. Also, explaining why he thinks the British Boxing Board of Control needs a revamp after “harsh” treatment of Chris Eubank Jr.

Owen Fulda: Someone that had success at the weekend, David Adeleye, but what did you make of the stoppage and the way that it materialized?

Tony Bellew: I thought it was a decent fight. I thought it was bubbling up. I thought TKV was getting stronger as the rounds went on, but I thought David Adeleye always looked like the puncher in the fight. Punching on the break and stuff like that. It’s wrong. And when the referee says break. He’s supposed to break, but the first rule we all learn in professional boxing is quite simple. Defend yourself at all times. At all times. Until there’s a referee in between you, that’s the only time, and even then I would be aware. Your eyes should never leave your opponent.

There were a couple of incidents on the weekend. There was the one where he knocks the hand away and the boys open to a shot then. That’s been going on for decades in boxing. Referees free up fighters’ hands at certain times. So, this punching on the break is nothing new. We’re going over old ground, but I think for David Adeleye, I think it’s kind of a lesson learned. Because I think he’ll have felt the same was done to him by Fabio Wardley a couple of years back.

I’m not saying anyone’s right or wrong; it’s just, it’s quite simple. Just listen and adhere to the rules. Protect yourself at all times. And you won’t go far wrong. So TKV, without sounding too harsh, has probably only got himself to blame. He’s a good fighter, you know, he’s a big strong boy. But a little bit naive and a little bit green.

Owen Fulda: It’s gone full circle now. David Adeleye’s got Fabio Wardley’s British Heavyweight Championship, which Fabio Wardley vacated.

Tony Bellew: He has, but I just think the water’s started to deepen now. I think we’ve seen that in the Fabio Wardley fight. I’m not sure what David Adeleye’s level is, I think we’ll find out when we know how far Fab Wardley goes, and Wardley has his work cut out for him in his next fight, to be totally honest. It means Jarrell Miller. That’s a hard night’s work for him because Jarrell Miller is massively durable. He’s just like a big mattress with arms. He just absorbs absolutely everything. And he can give it back. We’ve seen that fight with Andy Ruiz then going to a draw. It’s one he could have got. Some people like a Jarrell Miller win and some people had Ruiz win, but either way it’s a really close contest. And Andy Ruiz’s a top class fighter.

Owen Fulda: Jarrell Miller is a three-time drug cheat. How is this a reality in boxing in 2025 that he’s getting this shot at Wardley?

Tony Bellew: I’m not condoning any drug cheats because anyone cheating for performance-enhancing drugs should be banned for life. I’ve said this, and I’ll stand by it. People failing due to over-the-counter medicine – I believe they should have a slap on the wrist and be told and told about how important nutrition is in boxing. But when Jarrell Miller failed that drug test ahead of fighting Anthony Joshua, he was one molecule away from being the Incredible Hulk. He had every single agent in his body, possible, every steroid possible from EPO to testosterone. I’m surprised he didn’t explode.

It’s absolute madness. Until someone is banned for life, it’s not going to stop. Because these fighters will take the risk of getting a two-year slap on the wrist, and they’ll keep doing it. Someone’s got to set a precedent. I think that the levels of things in the new system should be taken into account because foods are changing. All kinds of different things are given to enhance foods. But when someone’s on steroids, it’s clear as night and day.

I feel for Fab. I really do. Fabio, in my opinion, shouldn’t have to go through Jarrell Miller. This is one of the world title eliminations he’s fighting for. How Jarrell Miller got two world title eliminators, I’ll never know. Because he’s just been popped that many times. It’s just one of these things. But like I said before, I’ll say it again. We’re not gonna learn until somebody is banned for life.

Owen Fulda: Joe Joyce lost to Filip Hrgovic at the weekend. He said he won’t retire. Frank Warren says he should retire. Where do you stand?

Tony Bellew: I saw a video that was on social media. I think it lasted for about four to five minutes. Joe was speaking on camera and not making any sense at all. It was heartbreaking to watch. Joe Joyce is an intelligent man. Yeah, he’s not soft. He’s not stupid. He’s taken unnecessary punishments now. I called for this after the Derek Chisora fight. People are jumping on this bandwagon now. I mean, I did tell anyone and everyone who’d listen as soon as he was done by Zhang in the first one. I told anyone who’d listen. His greatest asset was his durability and his ability, and his ability to absorb serious amounts of punishment and not be budged.

That was his asset. And I told anyone, listen, when that goes, he’s a danger in boxing. It’s not just downhill; it’s life-changing. And I think his life is already changing now from a physical perspective and from the outside looking in. He’s not the same person he was when he beat Daniel Dubois. When he beat Daniel Dubois and the manner he beat him in, he just absorbed everything. And everyone forgets this: he did the exact same to Joseph Parker. He absorbs everything that can be thrown and he just outmans you. It’s heartbreaking if you are a fighter and you’ve hit him with everything you’ve got, and he just keeps coming.

He doesn’t even need to be a big puncher. He just breaks your heart, and you’ve just had enough, and he’s done both of it. Done it to Daniel Dubois and he’s done it to Joseph Parker. But as I said before, once that durability goes. And that’s his great asset. And it’s gone. And Zang just popped it one day. It was always gonna go. I wasn’t sure at what point, I mean, don’t get me wrong, you do get freaks in the game. Like Oliver McCall, I was waiting for his to go one day and never did. Never did. You know, the most durable heavyweight ever, in my opinion.

But Joe Joyce’s did. And I just hope good people are around to say, “Joe, enough’s enough.” You know I’d like to believe he’s earned a few quid and he’s done. Let me tell you, he’s earned every single penny of it. Just walk away into the sunset and enjoy what you’ve done.

Owen Fulda: On Joseph Parker and Martin Bakole

Tony Bellew: Every time he’s thrown to the wolves, he comes back leading the pack and he’s done absolutely unbelievable. And then the latest travesty was Daniel Dubois pulling out. And if he’s sick, he’s got to pull out. I don’t question Daniel Dubois whatsoever. But he didn’t have to take on another bogeyman in Martin Bakole. No one wanted to go near him! We’ve heard about him. He’s the greatest sparring expert on the planet and he’s absolutely smashed the life out of every single person walking on the planet in sparring. I think we soon realized, and he soon saw that everything’s different with 10-ounce gloves on and no head guards on.

But I think Martin Bakole will be back. I do think he’ll still feature in and amongst the riggs, but the blueprint is there now on how to do him. We might see Martin in better shape next time. Yeah, that wasn’t great. I understand why he’s done it. It’s a last-minute call. He’s a heavyweight, he doesn’t have to make weight. But if you genuinely believe you’re gonna win, go for it. But you can’t genuinely believe you’re gonna beat a man who’s in fight shape. He’s been in the camp for 12 weeks and then you’re gonna turn up on three or four days notice at what, 300lbs+? It’s not a good look mate.

Owen Fulda: UFC President Dana White is launching the new Boxing League. Have you heard about it? There are fewer weight divisions. It’s a kind of shaking up boxing. What’s your take on it?

Tony Bellew: I think he’s trying to use a format similar to the UFC. You have to understand what Dana’s achieved with the UFC is nothing short of remarkable. I’m a mixed martial arts fan. I’ve been watching and studying mixed martial arts since the days of Mark Kerr and Mark Coleman. There’s a documentary out there for those who’ve never seen it called the Smashing Machine. That will tell you everything you need to know about the making of the martial arts in the UFC when it started building up. I also was watching it and loving it when the Ultimate Fighter got put on. And people miss what actually made and saved the UFC. It was Stephan Bonnar and Forrest Griffin. It’s the greatest fight in UFC history that I’ve ever seen. These fellas absolutely smashed the life out of each other, and they did it on Spike TV. And it just blew up from there. Overnight, it exploded. This fight changed mixed martial arts in the UFC, in my opinion, anyway. I think Dana’s come out and said it as well. Stephan Bonnar vs Forrest Griffin was just unbelievable. It really was chaos.

Mixed martial arts is the purest form of fighting. There’s no two ways about it, but one man’s been able to control the narrative the whole way through. And if one man can control the narrative and control where it’s going, then it’s a lot easier to control. Boxing has been going since the start of man. And one man will never completely control all of boxing, it’s true. I’m sorry to tell you the truth, it’s impossible.

There’s too many managers. There’s too many promoters. There’s too many agendas. And yes, you can align some of them and money will help with that. But you are never going to have one person. And you can’t take away with belts either. And whoever is suggesting that is wrong for doing it. Don’t destroy the history and the heritage of my wonderful, amazing sports. The WBC, the IBF, WBA, and the WBO have created something that youngsters look up to and want to be. That is what they aspire to be. And that’s the most important thing.

Owen Fulda: Did you always have your eyes on WBC?

Tony Bellew: Yeah, that was my belt. There’s a man from my city that held it. The amazing John Conteh and Paul Hodkinson as well. And there’s so many great fighters that have come out of my city. But John Conteh, in my opinion, is by far the greatest fighter that ever came out of my city or my area. You could say, with him being from Kirkby and I wanted to emulate him. Then the greats like Mike Tyson, Sugar Ray Leonard and Evander Holyfield have all held the WBC titles.

It was a dream come true to win it myself at Goodison Park. I can’t put it into words and anyone who knows, lived and seen through their lifelong dream and goal. I’ve done it. I’ve been in, done it. I’ve done that and seen it so all I’ve wanted is for other kids out there to inspire and go and do it. If I can do it, you can do it. And if you’re trying to take away them belts, it’s just a disgrace. Boxing and the UFC are two completely different sports and they can’t be run the same. Neither of them is wrong. But they’re just two completely different things. I appreciate what Dana’s doing and I’m sure it’ll gather momentum and it’ll gain numbers, but I just don’t think boxing can be run by one man.

Owen Fulda: Can we get a quick prediction of you for the Gervonta Davis vs Lamont Roach rematch, if one comes to fruition?

Tony Bellew: Tank does him. Tank figures it out. Tank’s one of the best thinking fighters in the world. He’s exceptional. He’s really good. But I think the thing with Tank is, he’s in his own head. And he lets the outside noise affect him. Whereas that boy just needs to focus on boxing, take himself away from the shit and just focus on fighting. Because he’s such a talented individual. Talented fighter. So he needs to keep that head down. Focus on his job. We’ve heard talk about him potentially retiring, which would be a great shame to boxing. Hopefully it doesn’t happen. Terrible. But Lamont Roach must still be fuming about what happened. He’s a very good fighter. And I think he should feel hard done by and aggrieved, but listen when you get a draw on a home show and you’re the away fighter, it kind of tells you where it’s at.

Owen Fulda: Quick one about Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. If we take their fathers out of the equation, is the fight still still a blockbuster sell out stadium fight and how much does that play a part in the narrative?

Tony Bellew: Well, you have to understand that when it first gets made, with the buildup and the hype that they’ve both had. Take out their fathers, they’re building the hype. They’ve both had a lot of buildup and they’ve created their own headlines and they’ve done controversial things themselves. But the rematch is a different level. It’s captured the public’s imagination.

You’ve got grandmothers talking about it, women in bingo also talking about it, especially after the egg slap, then that makes the news and the likes of Piers Morgan talking about on his show, on a daily basis. It’s astronomical. I mean, this stadium holds 75,000 people. There’s 135,000 people on a waiting list for tickets, it’s astronomical. I didn’t realize how big it was until I was on my way home watching the first presser, and I thought to myself “This is big.” And then after that presser, I thought “This is ginormous. This is just ridiculous.” It’s been blown out of proportion, but I think that’s a good thing. I think it’s great for British boxing. It’s great for the rivalry, it’s great for the promoters involved. It leaves British boxing in a really healthy place.

Owen Fulda: What about the £100,000 fine for Chris Eubank for the egg slap. Is that a bit harsh?

Tony Bellew: I think we need to see where that’s going? I’ve heard about the money going to ex-fighters’ funds. Well, I’m one of thousands upon thousands of ex-fighters. I’ve never had a single peep from the board since I retired. The only thing I’ve had them call me for is to ask if I’m gonna renew my manager’s license. Asking if I can pay them. I’m not a big fan of them. The board doesn’t do enough for former fighters; they really don’t. And there’s many more like me. I know Paul Smith spoke out about it, asking where all the money goes. There should be more former fighters on the board. The board is aging rapidly and it needs a few younger, fresher faces in there. That’s not me asking because I couldn’t think of anything worse than being on the board. My time is taken up enough as it is. Get some younger faces on that board. Get some former fighters on that board who understand and know what it’s like in this modern day being a fighter. It’s tired and it’s washed and it’s lacking.

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