Former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellew has named the man whom he considers to be the ‘greatest fighter of all time’.
Bellew defeated Ovill McKenzie to claim the British light-heavyweight title but came up short in world title challenges against both Nathan Cleverly and Adonis Stevenson at 175lbs, before a move up to cruiserweight breathed new life into the career of ‘The Bomber’.
The Evertonian trumped Cleverly in their rematch and overcame Mateusz Masternak to get his hands on the European crown, setting up an emotional WBC world title shot at Goodison Park, where he knocked out Ilunga Makabu to finally become a world champion.
Bellew stopped BJ Flores in his solitary defence of the belt, before twice halting David Haye up at heavyweight and then losing out to Oleksandr Usyk in a challenge for the undisputed cruiserweight throne, in what turned out to be his final fight.
On X, Bellew showed his appreciation for another fighter who moved through the weight classes, heaping praise on four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr.
“He always will be [the greatest] in my eyes. Roy Jones Jr. in his prime is the most effective and efficient fighter boxing has ever seen!
“Speed! KO Power! Reflexes! Amazing IQ! Insane footwork! The man truly had the lot.
“As you say he walks after this [John Ruiz] fight nobody ever debates it [in my honest opinion].”
Jones’ singular loss in his first 50 professional contests came via disqualification, but ‘Captain Hook’ then went on to lose nine of his last 26 bouts, finishing his career with a record of 66-10. He is widely regarded as one of the best fighters in the history of the sport, as well as the most captivating.
As highlighted in the exchange, however, many believe Jones fought on too far past his prime, struggling with the drop back down from heavyweight after the Ruiz win.
