Tony Bellew got himself in trouble with Sky for his conduct during Oleksandr Usyk’s win over Derek Chisora in 2020.
The former WBC cruiserweight champion was working as a pundit for the broadcaster for the October bout, which the Ukrainian won by unanimous decision to overcome his first significant test at heavyweight before going on to dethrone Anthony Joshua a year later.
While Bellew was on good terms with Usyk, whom he previously fought in 2018, he made no effort to hide his support for long-time friend Chisora.
He explained on the MHM Social: “It was purely as a friendship thing.
“When it comes to Derek, we’re close friends. I don’t have many close friends left in the boxing world anymore and there’s not many guys out there who openly supported me when I was fighting.
“Derek was always there with my biggest fights, right by my side, screaming and shouting for me.
“And I’m a loyal person – what you do for me, I do for you.
“So it was just one of them nights. I got reprimanded and told off by Sky for my shouting and stuff, but don’t employ me for the fights where my friends are fighting if that’s not what you want.
“I can be the most professional person in the world when I want to be and I can be emotionless on fights.
“But you can’t have one of the closest people I’ve had to me in boxing over the last decade fighting a man I’ve fought, who I know inside out, and not expect me to cheer and shout for them.
“It is what it is mate, I’m not really that bothered about being told off and it doesn’t really concern me that much anymore.
“I’ll just keep going. I’ll always support Derek, regardless of the atmosphere, regardless of the environment and regardless of the opponent. I’ll always support Derek Chisora.”
While 39-year-old Bellew is retired from boxing, his pal is very much still in fighting mode and Chisora, 38, is next in action on 3 December against Tyson Fury.
It is Del Boy’s first title challenge since 2012 and he will need all the support he can get from friends given that the current WBC champion is the overwhelming favourite.
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News Summary:
- Tony Bellew was ‘told off’ by Sky for supporting Derek Chisora so loudly in Oleksandr Usyk fight while working as a pundit and Del Boy will need his pal’s support again against Tyson Fury
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.