Tony Bellew hung up the gloves on a world cruiserweight championship winning campaign back in 2018.
The man from Liverpool stopped Ilunga Makabu in three to win the WBC 200lbs title, followed by one successful defence over BJ Flores before he beat domestic rival, David Haye, twice at heavyweight.
His career was given a definitive full stop at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk – that eighth round knockout in an undisputed cruiserweight bout being Bellew’s last in the sport and the Ukrainian’s final one before moving up to mix it with the big men.
Despite slotting comfortably into punditry, Bellew has teased a comeback on a few occasions. Firstly, he was open to earning mega money in a crossover bout, but more recently he had his eye on glory.
The introduction of the WBC’s controversial Bridgerweight division – filling the gap between cruiser and heavy, unnecessarily in the eyes of many – opened up a new world title for those who could make 224lbs.
Oscar Rivas won the vacant belt first, but injury forced him to vacate and it was fought for by Łukasz Różański and Alen Babić. The former blasted Babic out in one round.
The Polish fighter is the man Bellew was recently targetting for his return at 40, but plans to face another cruiserweight champion, Badou Jack, in Saudi Arabia have left ‘The Bomber’ out of the picture.
“The possibility of it is I just don’t think Łukasz Różański fancies it. If he did he would make it happen. But I think he’s got better options, financially. He’s got something on the table that’s huge.”
Bellew is still convinced that he could beat Różański handily.
“If he was to face me, even at 40, it would be curtains for him anywhere between six and eight. And it would only take me six or eight cause I’m 40. It’d be two rounds if I was anywhere below 36.”
Despite many British fight fans likely backing Bellew for one more bout, he’s set to remain ringside.
Różański is still expected to defend his WBC world title against ‘Jack The Ripper’, although little news has come since the fight was first floated.