Cleverly vs Bellew: Bellew Says Cleverly Needs Him to Sell Tickets

British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champ Tony Bellew says that Nathan Cleverly needs him to sell tickets, while Cleverly says that Bellew is a lot of big talk and little more.

From Bellew via Sky Sports:

"He is getting the best payday of his career because I generate media interest. He can't generate anything.

"What kind of champion comes to my hometown for his second defence? That is a champion that can't sell out his own back garden."

And from Cleverly:

"I think Tony's talking earned the fight - he knows that. That's why he acted like he did in the press conference.

"But I've got no issue with that. I didn't have to take the fight, I didn't have to come to Liverpool. I could have gone a different route.

"I am a born winner and the outcome is going to remain the same, I am going to stay undefeated."

To be 100% fair, as much as Bellew (16-0, 10 KO) might not have earned a world title shot, it's also easy to say that Cleverly (22-0, 11 KO) didn't really earn the title, either, having it handed over after Juergen Braehmer did his usual and bailed on a fight that wasn't set up for him to win in Germany.

It's a nice rivalry clash, though, which could be a good fight if Bellew goes back to being the reckless brawler he was prior to his last fight, a dull alleged "masterpiece" win over Ovill McKenzie. And combined with the Wilczewski vs DeGale fight, it will be a nice afternoon warm-up for those of in the U.S. before the Hopkins vs Dawson card that night.