Tony Bellew reveals his promise to ‘coward’ security after ex-champ was thrown out of Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson event
TONY BELLEW has hit back at the “cowards” who booted him out of Jake Paul and Mike Tyson’s pre-fight press conference.
The former WBC world champion, 41, was escorted out of Wednesday’s event after a stunt for bookmakers Paddy Power went wrong.
Paul faces 58-year-old Tyson in a Dallas dust-up on Friday, with the fighters facing off at a press event yesterday.
Interrupting proceedings with a megaphone and standing next to an elderly man dressed in a boxing robe, Bellew bellowed: “I’ve got your next opponent here, Jake.
“This guy’s got two hips so he is ready for you, Jake. He’s a great grandfather and he’s ready for you.
“He’s 107, a great-grandfather. Come on Jake, give this fella a chance.”
Bellew was promptly ejected from the Toyota Music Factory in Irving.
Speaking later to talkSPORT, Bellew revealed exactly what he said to the security guards tasked with removing him.
Bellew explained: “The guy gave me a shove in the back and I said ‘You’re an absolute coward’.
“Do you understand what I’d do to you? Please walk away.
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“His other mate said ‘We’re all talk are we?’
“I said it’s not talk, it’s a promise. I’d annihilate three of you at once, so please don’t do it.”
Bellew held the WBC cruiserweight title from 2016 to 2017 and finished his pro career 30-3-1 from 34 fights.
Earlier in fight week, Bellew described Iron Mike as his “boxing icon.”
He told The Daily Mail: “One of the reasons why I became the world champion was because of Mike Tyson.
“He inspired an entire generation, and even though I wasn’t part of that era, I grew up watching his fights.
“I was born in 1982, and I stayed up until three or four o’clock in the morning to watch his fights in the early ’90s.
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“Mike Tyson was a hero and an icon of mine. He is literally one of the kings of the sport.
“Of course, when you’re fighting a man half your age, you’ve got to be concerned.
“Thankfully, Mike isn’t fighting an established fighter or a world champion.”
He added: “I just want to see Mike Tyson knock him out.”
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Tyson returns on Friday for a first professional bout since 2005.
The Baddest Man on the Planet last stepped into the ring against Roy Jones Jr in a 2020 exhibition bout.
Friday’s fight will be over eight two-minute rounds – as opposed to the usual three – with bigger 14oz gloves on instead of 10oz.