Tony Bellew clashed with Jermaine Franklin’s coach after the Anthony Joshua fight, and the American is keen to settle it in the ring.
As the final bell went on Joshua’s dominant, unanimous decision victory over Franklin, the Brit started a post-fight altercation that involved both teams.
Lorenzo Reynolds – himself a former undefeated fighter and now Franklin’s strength and conditioning coach – pushed ‘AJ’ from outside of the ropes.
Bellew paused his punditry duties to confront Reynolds about his intervention. The former cruiserweight world champion later said that the American offered to step down and settle things, and claimed he was ready to hit him if that happened.
Speaking to the Express, Reynolds laid out an exhibition offer to Bellew with half of the proceeds going to charity to help children like James, who walked Franklin to the ring during his final week of cancer treatment.
“I read an article with him saying he would’ve chinned me, and I just think it would be the opposite honestly. I’m in great shape. I’m in the shape of my life and he’s pretty much looking like a 55-year-old soccer dad with a suit on.
So, if Bellew has a problem we can do an exhibition and donate 50 per cent of the purse to kids who are fighting cancer, like James.”
Reynolds went on to claim that Bellew, who is vocal about his friendship with Joshua, had an issue with Franklin’s side during fight week, too.
“There seemed like there was an issue on his end before the fight.
I saw him at the weigh-in. And so, after the weigh-in, Jermaine and the team, we walked around the mall for a little while and we crossed paths with Bellew, and the guy who was walking with Bellew, he shook Jermaine’s hand.
And Bellew, he rolled his eyes and turned his body and walked the other way.”
Bellew is yet to respond publicly, but has previously stated that it would take a huge amount of money to tempt him from retirement.