Who is Tony Bellew? Boxing world champion, film star and big Everton fan
THE Sun have revealed former English boxing pro Tony Bellew is set to be in this year’s I’m A Celeb line up.
The formidable athlete held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2016 to 2017 and even he had a role in the hit film Creed, a spin-off to the famous Rocky franchise – but how will he fare in the jungle?
Who is Tony Bellew?
Tony Bellew is a professional boxer from Liverpool who is currently the WBC world cruiserweight champion.
Bellew enjoyed a decorated amateur career winning the ABA heavyweight title three times, finishing with a record of 40 wins and seven defeats before turning professional in 2007.
The 34-year-old became Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion in 2010, but failed in two attempts to win the world title at that weight against Nathan Cleverley and Adonis Stevenson.
He finally became a world champion in 2016 after stepping up to his more natural division of cruiserweight, when he stopped Congolese opponent Ilunga Makabu.
In 2018, the pro officially announced his retirement from the sport after a defeat against Usyk.
Taking his gloves off for good, Bellew held an impressive record of 30 wins from 34 professional bouts – he only lost on three occasions and drew once.
He ultimately said his body couldn’t endure the physical strains of boxing anymore.
Since walking away from the ring for the final time, Bellew has worked as an an analyst for The Zone and is a regular contributor for the likes of TalkSPORT and others commentators.
And, now he is one of the latest campmates to be revealed in the I’m A Celeb 2023 cast.
This won’t be Tony’s first reality TV venture either – last year he endured Channel 4‘s Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins.
He is married to wife Rachael Roberts, and the couple share three sons together called Corey, Cobey and Carter.
What titles has Tony Bellew won?
The respected boxer has earned himself an impressive collection of titles across his 11-year career.
He’s punched and ducked his way to ABA heavyeight title a staggering three times.
Meanwhile in 2010, Bellew was crowned the Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion.
Two years later he became the British light-heavyweight champion.
Then in 2014, the boxer was announced WBO international cruiserweight champion.
Bellew was awarded the European cruiserweight champion title in 2015 and WBC world cruiserweight champion the following year.
What was Tony Bellew’s ringwalk music?
Bellew is a proud fan of Everton Football Club, and used to make the walk to the ring with their adopted song blasting out of the speakers.
Like the team, he entered the arena to the sound of the theme tune of the television programme Z-Cars – which was based on an old Liverpudlian folk song.
Was Tony Bellew in a Hollywood film?
Bellew gained popularity in America when he had a supporting role in the hit film Creed, a spin-off to the famous Rocky films.
Sylvester Stallone starred in the film as Rocky Balbao, who took over the career of Adonis Johnson – son of Rocky’s former foe then friend Apollo Creed.
Bellew assumed the role of Ricky Conlan, defending world light-heavyweight champion, who locks horns with Stallone’s young fighter in a brutal title match which was also filmed at Goodison Park.