Tuesday 23 June 2015 18:57, UK
Tony Bellew has issued a typically brutal assessment of the boxing business but is relishing the chance to get his hands on a cruiserweight world title the hard way.
The 32-year-old Evertonian fights in front of his home fans at Liverpool's Echo Arena on Friday night against late replacement Ivica Bacurin - live on Sky Sports - and is more determined than ever to complete a remarkable journey to the top by earning a shot at IBF champion Yoan Pablo Hernandez.
In his last bout in November, Bellew avenged a defeat to former WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly at the same venue. He then spent a short time away from the sport to be part of the filming of the Rocky spin-off 'Creed' and is looking forward to getting back to the day job.
While big-money bouts such as Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao continue to dominate the headlines, Bellew - for all his world title ambitions and his recent stint on a film set - remains very much focused on the nitty-gritty of training rather than the 'showbiz' aspects of the sport.
He told Sky Sports: "I'm not the most talented, I'm not the best. I'm just a hard-working man who wants to get better and work hard enough to be able to prove that I can compete and win at the top level.
"I just can't wait to punch someone in the face for real, to be honest. I've been doing all this film stuff and doing it for pretend and I just can't wait to do it for real. I've really missed it.
I just can't wait to punch someone in the face for real, to be honest. I've been doing all this film stuff and doing it for pretend and I just can't wait to do it for real. I've really missed it.
"I've missed boxing. I still love boxing more than ever. Do I love the business side of boxing? No, I don't. I think that the boxers are too often the last people that are considered in this business and I discovered that early in my career.
"That is certainly no reflection on my current promoters, who have done everything they promised ever since our first meeting. I've only got good things to say about them and I'm very happy with the way things are.
"I'm talking in general about how some fighters are treated and I'm talking about early on in my career when I was involved in legal disputes.
"I'm a normal, hard-working person. The way that boxers are portrayed is wrong. People from the outside looking in think we're all Floyd Mayweathers and we're all millionaires. That's a dream world. The average boxer won't get paid more than the average wage.
"Where I've come from, it's never been a question that I'd forget who I am. I am what I am. I'm nowhere near being a millionaire - I'm just a guy who works hard at my job."
Bellew has never been one for shying away from challenges. He's also fairly honest about the constant danger of letting his emotions get the better of him, and admits he will find it tough to keep himself in check in front of what is bound to be boisterous home support this weekend.
He added: "Yoan Pablo Hernandez is the best cruiserweight in the world and I want to face him. I've always wanted to test myself against the best and I believe he's the best.
"Of course I'd love to knock this guy out on Friday and make a statement like that but this guy could be a really hard fight - of course I'd love to stop him but I've got to be clever and use my boxing brain.
"I do get involved with the crowd and there's no telling if and when I will again. I get carried away and I want to take people's heads off and when that will happen again, your guess is as good as mine."
The bad blood with Cleverly is officially in the past, though. It was a rivalry that drew great interest and Bellew came close to snatching the Welshman's world light-heavyweight crown in 2011 before losing a majority decision.
Having laid that ghost to rest with the split decision victory in the return clash at cruiser, Bellew is impressively calm on the issue of Cleverly, who seems close to agreeing a shot at WBA light-heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer later this year.
He said: "I wish him well in his shot at Braehmer. I hope he brings another world title back to British shores.
"I've moved on from that now. I beat him. I did what I had to do. Nobody has ever beaten him like I beat him. I outworked him. That phase in my career is over now and I'm looking to become a world champion myself."
Watch Bellew v Bacurin, Callum Smith v Christopher Rebrasse, Rocky Fielding v Brian Vera and Martin Murray v George Beroshvili live on Sky Sports 1on Friday night from 7.30pm
