Tony Bellew believes boxers should go out on their shield in defeat, and he isn’t afraid to call out those he sees as “quitters.”
Following his criticism of the way Daniel Dubois seemingly allowed himself to be counted out during his world title challenge with Oleksandr Usyk, Bellew has now labelled Ohara Davies a quitter during a spat on X.
Bellew was referring to Davies’ fight with then fast-rising super lightweight star, Josh Taylor.
Taylor went on to become an undisputed four-belt champion and on the way, he put Davies down twice in their fight before doing so again, hard, in the seventh.
At that moment, Davies turned his back so gave the referee no choice but to wave it off and invite critics to accuse him of quitting. The Brit denied it in the aftermath saying he couldn’t breathe.
This weekend, Bellew gave props to Chris Eubank Jr for his win over Liam Smith, but caveated it by saying it wasn’t the Smith of old.
“He won’t make excuses Liam as it’s not his way but anyone who knows boxing or knows him knows that something was clearly up from round 2 onwards! Credit to Chris Eubank for getting back in there with him but for me that wasn’t the Liam Smith we all know!”
He won’t make excuses Liam as it’s not his way but anyone who knows boxing or knows him knows that something was clearly up from round 2 onwards! Credit to Chris Eubank for getting back in there with him but for me that wasn’t the Liam Smith we all know! ?
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) September 2, 2023
Davies interjected and accused Bellew of celebrating victory over an injured David Haye, and Bellew then denied that while calling Davies a quitter.
“Once again quitter you couldn’t be more wrong! Watch the fight back and look what I done after the first fight with David! I went over to him stopped my promoter celebrating and helped him walk back to his corner! I then dealt with a fully fit version of him in rematch!”
Once again quitter you couldn’t be more wrong! Watch the fight back and look what I done after the first fight with David! I went over to him stopped my promoter celebrating and helped him walk back to his corner! I then dealt with a fully fit version of him in rematch! ?
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) September 3, 2023
Worst part is he didn’t allow himself to get banged out mate! That’s the honorable way REAL fighters go! He chose to take a knee and quit cos it wasn’t going his way! See REAL fighters go out on their shields! He’s a fraud an the truth kills him! Can’t lie to himself can he. ?♂️?
— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) September 3, 2023
Davies then fantasised about a fight with Bellew should the be able to make the same weight. The back and forth ended.
He has this year signed with Golden Boy Promotions and is currently campaigning to have his mandatory fight with WBA champion, Rolando Romero.
