Tony Bellew's life was saved by referee as 'brutal' fight 'nearly killed' him
I’m A Celebrity star Tony Bellew has told how a quick-thinking boxing ref "saved his life" in his final fight.
Everton fan Tony, 40, was beaten in an eighth round knockout by Oleksandr Usyk in November 2018 as the pair battled for the undisputed world cruiserweight title. In camp, Jamie Lynn Spears was getting to know her new campmate and asked Tony: “What does it feel like when you knock somebody out?”
Tony said: “Do you know what, babe? It’s a relief it’s over.” Jamie Lynn added: “You’re not happy to knock someone out, but you are kind of, because that’s your job…” Tony replied: “I live for the knockout.”
Jamie Lynn admitted: “It would be my worst nightmare to know I have to literally fight.” Tony said: “The most important part is controlling yourself emotionally. You can’t be emotionally attached to the event, you’ve got to be cold.
“I don’t think anything I’ve done is really special. Anyone can do it, you’ve just got to be willing to sacrifice.” Jamie Lynn laughed: “I’m sorry no. No, no, no. There’s a lot of things anyone can do, boxing is not one of them!”
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Moving onto discuss his final fight, Sam Thompson asked: “What was it like fighting Usyk?” Tony replied: “Too hard. Obviously he’s amazing. I’ve fought stronger people, I’ve fought quicker people, but I’ve never fought someone like him who has got everything. He works you out. He downloads what you do.
I’m A Celebrity star Tony Bellew has told how a quick-thinking boxing ref 'saved his life' (ITV/REX/Shutterstock)"He’s downloading all the data in front of him. It takes him three rounds to do it. With me, it took him eight. And then he does it, he pulled the trigger. But I was exhausted, like. I remember everything up until round 7. I don’t remember round 8.”
Fred Sirieix asked: “Because you were so tired?” Tony said: “Yeah.” Sam asked: “Does he hit hard or not?” Tony said: “No and I was up at six. He didn’t knock me clean out… I got up at six, thank god the referee didn’t let me because he’d have killed me.”
Reports after the fight say Tony had concussion, as in his post-match interview he did not know which round he went down in. He had been winning on points at that stage but Usyk was beginning to get the upper hand. Tony then announced his retirement.
Tony added in the Bush Telegraph: “The referee literally saved my life. Next shot probably puts me away for good. So, boxing at the highest level in the professional business is brutal. My priority was to make it home safe. After that it was to win at all costs.”
Sam then compared the size of his hand to Tony’s before yelling to Marvin Humes: “This hand is just a hand, but this hand has knocked out so many people!”
I’m A Celebrity 2023 airs every night at 9pm on ITV1 and ITVX.* Follow Mirror Celebs and TV on , , , , and .
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