Thursday 20 November 2014 20:53, UK
Nathan Cleverly expects Tony Bellew to ‘crumble’ under the big-fight pressure when they meet again in Liverpool.
The fierce hostility between the pair continued at the pre-fight press conference as they traded insults in a heated head-to-head and Bellew slapped away his rival’s hand when he made a ‘2-0’ sign.
Both men have been in bullish mood ahead of their rematch this Saturday, live on Sky Sports Box Office, but the Welshman believes his opponent’s confidence will drain away once the first bell rings at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.
Cleverly said: “He was just being his usual idiotic self, trying to rattle me, saying little things, trying to get into my brain. He tried it for the first fight. This guy has tried it all before. He’s brought up everything and he’s failed.
“The first fight he failed, he’s trying it again and he’s going to fail. This guy, what he needs to do is concentrate on becoming a better fighter, beating me on fight night. Less of all this big man talk at the table. He needs to perform in that ring and that’s where he fails.
“When it really counts - he’s had two world title opportunities - he’s failed in the past, once against me, once against Adonis Stevenson.
“He’s got a big chance now and he’s going to fail again. You watch this guy crumble when it really counts in that ring. He’ll crumble again.”
The pair are returning to the scene of Cleverly’s first points win and Bellew will have his local support behind him again.
But the former WBO light-heavyweight champion does not mind travelling to hostile territory as he feels all the expectation will be on the home fighter's shoulders.
He’s got a big chance now and he’s going to fail again. You watch this guy crumble when it really counts in that ring. He’ll crumble again.
“Ultimately, he knows there is a lot of pressure on the line for him,” said Cleverly, "He’s in his hometown.
"The way he’s talked, he’s built up a lot of expectation and he thinks as soon as he lands clean he’s going to take me out. But when he doesn’t take me out, what’s going to happen then, when I’m still there standing? I’m going to brush off his big power shots and come back with my own and break this guy up.”
Marco Huck, the WBO cruiserweight champion, will be watching from ringside and is expected to accept a challenge from the winner.
But Cleverly admits the loser might be forced to contemplate retirement. “Maybe so, it’s a massive fight this and losing is not an option,” he said.
“We’ve built this fight up for a long time now, it’s a proper grudge match. We dislike each other, in fact he actually hates me. I strongly dislike that guy, but there is too much on the line.
"Losing is not an option for me. That’s not going to happen.”
Watch Cleverly v Bellew II live and exclusive on Sky Sports Box Office on November 22, with Joshua, Groves, DeGale and more, also on. Go to skysports.com/cleverlybellew to book.
