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TONY Bellew’s world title dreams have been put on hold after failing to beat Isaac Chilemba in a final title eliminator.
Bellew knew that victory at the Echo Arena in Liverpool would put him in a position to take on WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.
But the 30-year-old Scouser failed to hammer home the advantage he had gained in the early rounds and had to settle for a draw against his rugged opponent from Malawi.
Even Bellew’s usually optimistic promoter Eddie Hearn admitted: “On that performance, maybe he is not ready for a Chad Dawson, so maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.
“Maybe he needs to build again, learn more and come back better because I don’t think on that performance he may have been able to deal with Dawson.”
The result is a bitter blow for Bellew whose only defeat came at the hands of Nathan Cleverly in a bid to relieve the Welshman of his WBO title in 2011. Bellew was bitterly disappointed with the draw after one judge scored it 116-112 for Chilemba, another 116-115 for Bellew and the third had it level at 114-114.
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Bellew knew that victory at the Echo Arena in Liverpool would put him in a position to take on WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson.
But the 30-year-old Scouser failed to hammer home the advantage he had gained in the early rounds and had to settle for a draw against his rugged opponent from Malawi.
Even Bellew’s usually optimistic promoter Eddie Hearn admitted: “On that performance, maybe he is not ready for a Chad Dawson, so maybe it’s a blessing in disguise.
“Maybe he needs to build again, learn more and come back better because I don’t think on that performance he may have been able to deal with Dawson.”
The result is a bitter blow for Bellew whose only defeat came at the hands of Nathan Cleverly in a bid to relieve the Welshman of his WBO title in 2011. Bellew was bitterly disappointed with the draw after one judge scored it 116-112 for Chilemba, another 116-115 for Bellew and the third had it level at 114-114.
[Click Here To Read More]
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