Let’s not get carried away with Bellew’s career.

[RJJ-94-02=GOAT]

Before people like Tris Dixon or the clowns at Sky try and spin the narrative that Bellew was some british great. Let’s be realistic. He wasn’t.
He wasn’t an elite level fighter and was in fact not even close to that level.
I mean who did he beat? Do people really consider a injury riddled, shot Haye to be some sort of credible win? Is winning a vacant word title against an opponent completely unproven at that level and defending it against BJ Flores really that impressive? If we are brutally honest the best win of Bellew’s career is Isaac Chilemba...

I think the most damning evidence on Bellew’s career is this: When facing reigning world champions Bellew is 0-3(with 2 knockout losses) He was 2-3 in word title fights and 3-3 against current/former champions. Compare that to one of his peers/rivals like Nathan Cleverly who went 1-0 against reigning champions, 6-2 in world title fights and went 2-3 against current/former champions. Cleverly is by no means considered a british great and he achieved more than Bellew did in his career.

Credit to Bellew for making a lot of money in boxing due to his excellent ability to sell a fight, but his ability in the ring was far from excellent and his resume proves that.

[Ray*]

He is definitely not world class. He is a bit of a mental case, he tried to play the "Honest guy" "Fat guy" speaking his mind in his last couple of fight, and i believe the Haye fight hyped him more than he should be. I don't like him one bit to be honest so my opinion of him is well biased.

[New England]

he'll be remembered for his comeback. those are important narratives in boxing. if guys don't do what bellew did there's no reason to watch an old vet fight.

if you had told me years ago that this skinny LHW would go on to be a champion at cruiserweight and make ****load of money in big arenas at HW i'd have laughed at you.

[EasternEuroFan]

He was an ok fighter. A bit underrated by those who make him out to be a domestic level bum, but overrated by those at sky.

Has some half decent names on his record like Chilemba, Masternak etc, neither are great but solid enough. Bellew was probably at the lower end of world level, like fringe world level.

Anyway, i don't think he'll be remembered as being a great fighter, i don't think anyone believes he is, but he'll be remembered for being part of exciting events like the Makabu and Haye fights.

The guy made a load of money, never ducked a challenge and won belts at very level and had 3 big PPV fights. He had a pretty good career all in all.

[R_Walken]

Not Elite or World level

But he navigated the 2nd half his career to maximize the opportunities given to him , getting a strap at home and having a couple of high profile big $ fights

Can’t hate , he played the game well and over achieved which is rare in this sport

[01samuelc]

No where near the best, but he's had a better career than fighters with 10x his talent.

[IronDanHamza]

He is definitely not world class. He is a bit of a mental case, he tried to play the "Honest guy" "Fat guy" speaking his mind in his last couple of fight, and i believe the Haye fight hyped him more than he should be. I don't like him one bit to be honest so my opinion of him is well biased.

What do we consider world class?

He was world champion wasn't he?

[Ray*]

What do we consider world class?

He was world champion wasn't he?

So any world champion = World clas to you?

[Idunnoshet]

Agree that Bellew is Not Elite level .
Seems as if it's mainly Hearn and his lackeys trying to make him out to be some Great fighter .

[NearHypnos]

So any world champion = World clas to you?

Not always but usually, yes.

World class isn’t just the “elite”.

There’s world class and then the elite among those and then the elite overall..the p4p guys. The unusual talents.

Bellew might not be a p4p type guy or top 2-3 of the division every time out, but he was good enough to compete against those guys. Only the top guys would be the ones to beat him...only the “elite” of the division are the guys who would. But that’s how you establish who’s elite and who stands on what side of the line.

Sure, he wont beat every top 10 dude in his division. But he wont lose to each one either. And if you’re a top 10 type of guy in the WORLD, you’re world class.

Bellew had a good career and it’s one to be proud of. Not every good career looks like Floyd’s or Wladimir’s or something. It’s easy to lose sight of it when we’re wrapped up in the world but taking a step back and looking at the whole picture, being a world champion boxer is an ENORMOUS achivement and it’s incredibly impressive.

Bellew can hold his head high. He did well. Not the best to ever do it but damn sure not the worst.