DAZN forced to apologise as boxer Reece Bellotti launches foul-mouthed tirade on live TV leaving Eddie Hearn squirming
DAZN were forced to apologise for boxer Reece Bellotti’s furious expletive-laden rant live on TV.
And even Eddie Hearn was left squirming as the swear words kept coming.
Bellotti was due to fight Michael Gomez Jr on the Jack Catterall vs Regis Prograis undercard at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester.
However, little more than an hour before the first bell with the British and Commonwealth super featherweight belts on the line, the fight was suddenly called off.
According to a Matchroom Boxing statement, Gomez Jr had been checked over by a doctor and ruled out of the contest at the 11th hour.
But 19-5 boxer Bellotti was not buying the explanation – and launched into a blistering tirade at his opponent for ducking the bout.
Speaking to DAZN alongside boxing promotor Hearn and Tony Bellew, he raged: “He swallowed it. You f***ing know he swallowed it.
“He has one million per cent swallowed it.
“Bell [Tony Bellew] you can back what I’m saying here – if you’re in that changing room there is nothing out there that will f***ing stop you from fighting. Fact.
“He has gone behind his team and swallowed the fight. 100 per cent fact.
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“In my last fight against Levi Giles, my hand was mashed up.
“I got told by my physio, ‘Don’t take the fight, your hand is mashed.’
“I said, ‘I signed the fight, I’m fighting him, I’ll do him with one f***ing hand. I don’t give a s***.’
“The boys could have gone behind my back, the doctor would have bowled in and I would have said, ‘Nah I’m sweet doctor, don’t worry about it.’
“I am not swallowing a fight in a changing room ever.
“He has swallowed the fight.
“He sold 1,000-plus tickets now he’s got to tell all his mates, ‘Oh sorry my team pulled me out.’
“You sound like a p***y. You melted. Fact.”
Hilariously, midway through the stinging monologue, Hearn tried to warn Bellotti.
The promotor put out a hand and simply said: “Language.”
But that did not stop the Watford warrior from continuing his X-rated tirade.
And that forced the producers at DAZN to add a message on the screen to say sorry to viewers.
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The note said: “We apologise for any offensive language.”
But most fans were fully supportive of Bellotti’s explosive rant, insisting it was totally justified.
One said: “Up The Bomber!”
Another wrote: “Such a great interview!! Love Bellotti even more now! Letting it all out!”
A third added: “Love it and fair play to him. Pay the man Eddie he’s done his bit.”
A fourth typed: “Bellotti losing his s*** on DAZN was fun, though not a substitute for the fight.”
A fifth commented: “Reece Bellotti throwing verbal bombs on DAZN. Fair to say, he’s p***ed off.”
A sixth joked: “I appreciate the frustration from Belotti but someone needs to save him from himself on this mic.”
And a final user replied: “Reece is on fire in this interview. P***take for him after a long camp.”
Bellotti vs Gomez Jr was supposed to be the main supporting act of the night – and tipped by many to be the best contest on the card.
Ricky Hatton’s son Campbell is also a warm-up act before Catterall and Prograis take centre stage at around 11pm.
The super lightweight contenders were originally scheduled to meet in August, but the fight was delayed due to Catterall suffering an injury.
Brit Catterall will be desperate to secure a world-title shot in 2025 with a win over former world champ Prograis.