By Terence Dooley

Former EBU Cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew (26-2-1, 16 KOs) has told BoxingScene that his May 29 Goodison Park showdown against Ilunga Makubu (19-1, 18 early) for the WBC title will be a “Carnival” of boxing for the city of Liverpool.

The fight takes place on a Bank Holiday Sunday at the ground of the former two-time light-heavyweight world title challenger's beloved Everton F.C.

It is seen as a risky proposition given the tight timescale, but the Liverpudlian believes his city will embrace the idea of a boxing Bank Holiday and come out in their droves to support him and the other fighters on the card.

“This is a celebration,” he said when speaking to BoxingScene.

“It is not just about me. This is the dream, a show full of Scousers: we’ll have 50-50 fights, great derbies and local fighters in great fights. The tickets come out next week. This has never been done before. Yes, they say it’s a risk, but it’s a big event in Liverpool—it is a great event to be part of and it’s in the city of Liverpool, which always comes alive during Bank Holiday weekend.”

He added: “We’ve got a world title on the line, the WBC belt is the one I’ve always wanted and I could never have dreamed that I’d be fighting for it at Goodison.”

As for the fight itself, there is the small matter of Bellew’s hard hitting South African opponent. A few people have picked the southpaw, and picked him big, yet Bellew told me that this was the only fight out there for him as he believes it will crown the division’s best boxer.

“I am fighting a killer,” he stated. “He is a really hard man, but to be the best you have to fight the best—that’s what I’m doing. It’s going to be hard, it’s going to take skill and boxing ability, as he’s heavier handed than anyone else out there. I believe I’m the best cruiserweight in the world and will prove it with this fight.”

Rumours of Bellew’s big announcement had set the online rumour mill in motion. Indeed, the 33-year-old generates a lot of online discussion and was once an active member on a few forums. These days, though, he tends to ignore the barbs that come his way or takes them as a backhanded compliment.

“All that online talk used to motivate me,” he revealed. “I used to pay attention to it, but I’m a busy man now so have no time for it all. I’ve never had abuse from anyone who is better than me. These people are not doing anything with their lives so they abuse people who are.

“These days, I only use social media to speak to people who are positive and are boxing fans. I pay no real attention to those other ones, but anything that does slip through just drives me on in the gym and the ring.”

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