Stevie Bell Ready For Simpson on Salita-Khan Undercard
By Terence Dooley
Ashton’s Stevie ‘Bellos’ Bell challenges Greenock’s Commonwealth featherweight champion John Simpson, 26, on the undercard of Amir Khan versus Dmitriy Salita at the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle later tonight. Bell, a two-time ABA winner as an amateur, has had a slow-burning professional career. However, the boxer believes his time has come and that Simpson will lose his grip on the title he won from Paul Truscott, who was stopped in eight in their first encounter and halted in ten when fighting a rematch with the rough, tough Scotsman.
Bell campaigned at super-featherweight for the majority of his career before moving down in weight after dropping a close, contentious decision to Femi Fehintola for the English 130lb crown. Steven believes that the move to 126lb has been to his advantage.
“I am massive at the weight,” stated Bell. “I was the daddy as an amateur at featherweight. Nobody in Britain could touch me [Writer’s note: Bell won 120 of his 157 amateur bouts, captaining his country at the 2002 Commonwealth Games]. I truly believe that no one can touch me as a featherweight.
“I have been fighting lightweights and light-welterweights, and beating them. I know for a fact that I can get in with any featherweight in Britain and feel a lot stronger than them. Plus I have skills.”
A respected amateur, Bell has been chomping at the bit for a professional opportunity, his slow progress has taken the boxer by surprise. “If someone had told me the pro game would move this slowly for me I would never have believed them. I have had some decent fights in my time but I’ve always wanted a big title fight. I am capable of fighting at the title level,” predicted Bell.
“I did my apprenticeship, fighting every type of fighter and style as an amateur. I am more than ready to step up to the world stage. To get to the world stage I need to beat the best in Britain.”
As mentioned, an English title tilt against Femi Fehintola in October 2007 saw Bell score a knockdown in the first round, only to then lose steam, and the fight, as the evening progressed.
“I think so, yeah,” replied Bell when asked if he had let the fight slip away. “I thought I would beat Femi before the fight. I thought I was capable of beating him in five rounds, no disrespect to Femi. I think that scoring the knockdown in the first round was the worst thing that could have happened to me.
“I got a little bit giddy. It was my first ten-rounder, and I put a lot into the first half of the fight. I then slowed down in the second half of the fight. I thought I had won it, but the referee saw it different.”
The result led to a bit of soul-searching; ultimately, though, Bell believes that his amateur pedigree has helped him keep the faith. “If you have been a good amateur you can be a good pro,” he declared.
“We keep telling Frankie Gavin that it is not about changing your style. It is about using what you have already got. Your amateur career gives you the tools so why eliminate that experience as a professional? I have added to my style and made myself stronger, moving to three-minute rounds and then eventually, I hope, to the title distance.”
Still, at 34 years of age time is not on Bell’s side, something that the fighter readily admits. “Without a doubt,” concurred Bell. “People are telling me that time is not on my side, but age is just a number. It comes down to how good you feel. You can get better with age. The Stevie Bell of ten-years ago would struggle with the Stevie Bell you see now.
“I am not stupid in the game. I will know when the time is right to quit. If I know I can no longer do something I will not do it. I jacked in the acting over the last year or so [Writer’s note: Bell has appeared in a number of British TV shows]. I am not doing boxing as a part-time job. This is full-time for me. Boxing is my career.”
Bell now has his big chance; Simpson, though, is a tough operator, he broke Truscott’s heart during the course of eighteen pitiless rounds; Steven will need to be on his game to beat the teak-tough Scottish champion, the Anthony Farnell-trained stylist is cognisant of this fact.
“I love John as a fighter. I have watched all of his fights and I saw him defeat Andy Morris in two sensational performances,” revealed Bell. “John has been unlucky in some of his fights for the British title, losing when he should have won. I really do rate John Simpson. I thought he did really well against [Paul] Appleby…but he won’t be feeling good after we’ve fought!”
The fight is being broadcast on Sky Sports PPV and HD PPV here in the UK. Check your local listings for ordering information.
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