Bomber Bellew eyeing another quick finish
Tony Bellew is confident of producing another explosive performance when he defends his Commonwealth light-heavyweight crown against Darlington’s Bob Ajisafe. Bellew’s maiden title defence, originally booked for Frank Warren’s subsequently aborted card at Preston Guild Hall tomorrow (3 July), has been rescheduled for Friday 24 September at the Park Plaza Westminster Bridge Hotel in London.
Bellew-Ajisafe will headline Warren’s sixth annual DebRA charity show which will be raising money for the fight against the genetic skin blistering condition Epidermolysis Bullosa.
Liverpool banger Bellew captured the Commonwealth title vacated by Nathan Cleverly with a crushing first round stoppage over outgunned Ghanaian Atoli Moore four months ago. It is hoped, and anticipated, that the crafty Ajisafe will ask more questions of the former amateur standout.
Rangy southpaw Ajisafe has suffered only one defeat in nine starts, a three-round decision loss to Carl Dilks in Prizefighter 18 months ago. The Darlington man bounced back in his next contest by climbing off the floor to narrowly outpoint the dangerous Ovill McKenzie over eight rounds. As regular readers will know, former Commonwealth champion McKenzie surprisingly turned down the opportunity to regain the Commonwealth crown against Bellew in March.
“Ajisafe is a good test for me, he’s only lost once and he’s already beaten Ovill McKenzie so he may be able to extend me over a few rounds. Although I’ve only boxed against one southpaw as a professional (a four-round points win over Jevgenijs Andrejevs in which Bellew suffered a flash knockdown in the final round after losing his footing), I’ve boxed enough southpaws in the amateurs so I’m not worried about the likes of Bob Ajisafe,” commented Bellew to BoxRec News.
“I can’t see this fight going beyond the sixth round. Ajisafe won’t have the strength to keep me off him and he showed against McKenzie that he can be floored early. If that happens against me I’ll take him out because I hit hard enough to stop any light-heavyweight in Britain.”
Full-time professional Bellew, 13-0 (9), is hoping to finish the year strongly after enduring only 2 minutes and 27 seconds of ring action thus far in a frustrating 2010.
“It has been difficult recently because I was supposed to be boxing in July on one of three dates but unfortunately these things happen in Boxing. I can’t complain because I’m very well looked after by Frank Warren and I’m confident that he’ll get me the right fights moving forward."
"The plan is for me to beat Ajisafe and then look to win the British title before the end of this year. After that I’d like to challenge for the European title in 2011 and hopefully I’ll be in contention for a world title shot by the end of next year,” added Bellew.
