Lanell Bellows: Nobody Can Match My Work Ethic

By Jake Donovan

Floyd Mayweather’s “hard work, dedication” chant was never meant as a catchphrase but as a way of life throughout his Hall of Fame career. Most in his circle get that, perhaps none more so than Lanell Bellows, whose hard work and dedication was precisely what got him through the door.

A late bloomer to the sport, the 30-year old super middleweight prospect has spent virtually his entire life overcoming adversity. From surviving a rough childhood in the mean streets of Compton, Calif. to having to play catchup after taking up boxing at age 21, Bellows vividly recalls the day that let him know that he’s finally made it – still with plenty of work to go, of course.

“I was always a fighter as a kid, that’s how it was growing up in Compton,” Bellows told BoxingScene.com of the path that led to boxing. “There’s always been killings out there, but in my circles we fought. You had a problem? You fight. From always fighting, the curiosity led me to boxing.

“Once I started training, I realized you get out what you put in. Ain’t no better example of that than Floyd. When I trained alongside him for the first time (2012) – with my minimal amateur experience (27-6 in his brief run), I had to show him something to make him remember me.”

Hard work literally paid off in this instance. Bellows – who was a barber before a boxer and to this day remains active in the field - was kept on board in helping Mayweather train for a May ’12 title fight with then-super welterweight champion Miguel Cotto. Soon thereafter came the life changing moment when he signed with Mayweather Promotions, claiming the least amount of amateur experience among the stable of fighters, but perhaps the greatest amount of desire.

“I’m not trying to put myself alongside Floyd in saying this – but I compare my work ethic to him,” suggests Bellows. “Because of my lack of an amateur career compared to all the other guys in the gym, I have to be hard on the grind daily. I was signed by Floyd based on my work ethic. I was so far behind those other guys that I’m still playing catch-up.”

His young career has already endured its share of bumps and bruises, including a surprise loss to Eddie Hunter in Dec. ’13. Bellows dusted off the setback and now carries an eight-fight win streak into his next adventure, an eight-round clash with unbeaten Antowyan Aikens on the February 16 edition of Premier Boxing Chanpions (PBC) on Fox Sports 1, airing live from Sam’s Town Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The bout represents a big step up in class for Bellows, who boxes both for passion and as means to provide for his two sons – Lanell Jr. (age 11) and Lavell (age 6). Because he has a clear vision of why he fights, there is no challenge he believes to be too much, too soon. All the hard work he puts in during the gym every day tells him that he’s ready for anything.

“I just want to keep winning, keep learning as much as I can in this sport,” Bellows says of his motivation to take on the unbeaten Aikens. “I know he’s coming, I know he doesn’t want to see that “0” go. I’m here to let him know, he can’t leave with it.

“Whatever he expects to bring to this fight, what he – and everyone watching – can expect from me is for proper preparation to meet opportunity. I’m in the gym 24/7. I don’t care about how much talent my opponent has, if they think they’re more talented than me, if they’re more accomplished. Nobody can match my work ethic. The hard work I put in day in and day out, night in and night out will lead me to being victorious in this fight.”

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox