By Jake Donovan
Tempers flared during the press conference held Wednesday afternoon in Liverpool to formally announce the rematch between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew. The heated rivals will once again clash on November 22 at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, which event handlers believe will be at full capacity given early ticket sales.
"We're through 6,000 tickets sold already," promoter Eddie Hearn announced during Wednesday's press conference in Bellew's hometown, the first leg of a two-city tour that also includes a stop later in the day in Cleverly's corner of the world in Cardiff, Wales. "It looks like it will sell out today."
The Echo Arena seats roughly 12,000, which—providing the aforementioned tally is accurate—already puts the venue at half capacity just one hour after the box office windows opened.
Tickets went on sale earlier Wednesday afternoon, although Matchroom Fight Pass members were able to purchase tickets during the presale on Tuesday. Anticipation for the rematch has already exceeded that of their first fight, ironic considering far more was at stake during their Oct. '11 war, in which Cleverly managed a majority decision.
Both fighters were undefeated at the time, with Cleverly barely edging Bellew to cling on to his light heavyweight title. The bout was also staged at Echo Arena, though what was just a title fight three years ago—albeit a hell of a fight—has now become a major event, a penchant for which Hearn has shown quite a flair in recent times.
The crowning moment of Hearn's promotional career will most likely remain his efforts surrounding the super middleweight rematch between Carl Froch and George Groves. Their sequel this past May drew upwards of 80,000, with Froch retaining his title after scoring a highlight reel 8th round knockout to remove doubt left behind from his highly controversial 9th round stoppage of Groves last November.
Neither Cleverly nor Bellew own a belt these days, nor is either fighter in the hunt for one at present moment. Both have abandoned the light heavyweight division following stoppage defeats in 2013 - Cleverly's reign came to a brutal end in a one-sided 4th round knockout loss to Sergey Kovalev last August at home in Wales, while Bellew was stopped after six rounds against lineal light heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson last November in Canada.
Following the losses, both opted to move up to the cruiserweight division, where they've won their last two respective starts.
Bellew (22-2-1, 14KOs) fights at home—and at Echo Arena—for the third straight fight.
The venue holds a special place in the heart of Cleverly (28-1, 14KOs) as well, having hosted his title winning effort over Nadjib Mohammedi nearly four years ago.
Both fighters played Echo Arena on the same show in July; Cleverly scored a 4th round knockout of Alejandro Valori, while Bellew stopped Julio Cesar dos Santos in five rounds in the evening's main event.
There is no official sanctioning as of yet for the forthcoming rematch, although the headliner is budgeted for 12 rounds. It stands to reason that an eliminator of sorts will be sought, with the winner likely to target a cruiserweight title at some point in 2015.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com, as well as a member of Transnational Boxing Ratings Board and the Boxing Writers Association of America. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
