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Tony Bellew opened up about his retirement from boxing on I’m a Celebrity. . . Get me out of here.
Bellew, a former cruiserweight champion and current contestant on I’m a Celebrity…, retired from the sport after his knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2018.
Bellew, 41, was stopped by Usyk in the eighth round while challenging the Ukrainian for the undisputed cruiserweight titles. The Liverpudlian then called time on his 11-year professional career, while Usyk, 36, has since stayed unbeaten and become unified heavyweight champion.
“My body stopped me. It’s so dangerous, it’s brutal,” Bellew said on I’m a Celebrity on Monday, Dec. 4. “Boxing is the most damaging game in the world. As a professional boxer, it is estimated that he will receive blows to the head 50,000 times a year. . . [I thought], ‘It’s going to catch up with me at some point. ‘
“I can settle, I knew that when I started: ‘I know what I’m signing up for. ‘If I go into a coma from the beatings I received, it’s my fault. It’s nobody else’s. I’m not going to sue anyone, it’s not their fault.
“I used to tell my wife, ‘At some point they’re going to hurt me. ‘She would know. You’ll have to settle for it.
Bellew’s loss to Usyk was his second professional loss, in a career that included back-to-back victories over former world champion David Haye.
Usyk is set to fight Tyson Fury in Saudi Arabia in February, with the Ukrainian’s unified titles and the Briton’s WBC belt on the line. The winner will be crowned the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 24 years.
I’m a celebrity. . . Get me out of here!continues Tuesday at 9 p. m. in ITV1 and ITVX.