Swiss style Cuckoo Clock
HE is the self-confessed “fat guy” who has been punching above his weight in the ring.
Tony “Bomber” Bellew was the surprise victor in his boxing clash with David Haye after he stopped his arch rival in the 10th round last year.
Now the 35-year-old is aiming to be in the shape of his life as he prepares for this Saturday’s heavyweight re-match at the O2 Arena in London.
Tony has been taking part in a gruelling 14-week training camp.
And the sharp-tongued Scouser reckons his new diet and fitness regime has put him in prime position for another triumph over Haye, 37.
He told the Daily Star: “I can’t wait to punch him in the face again.” The father-of-three admits that his weight soared over Christmas to 16st 8lb.
He says: “I ate what I wanted to eat over Christmas – I was addicted to Quality Street!”
But Tony’s weight has already plunged thanks to his camp work. He says: “I’ve got a specific weight I want to get to for the fight and I’ve already come down a lot.”
Along with sparring, Tony’s six days a week regime has seen him mix up treadmill sprints and weights, along with bike work and running sessions. He even does punching sessions with weights attached to his arms.
After starting at 7 o’clock in the morning he’ll end a hard day’s training with swimming.
He says: “I’ll do 60 lengths at maximum output, mixing up breaststroke and crawl.
“Over a week I’ll do at least 11 different training sessions and maybe three on a Monday.”
Tony finds the Saturday treadmill sessions some of the hardest.
He says: “You’re looking at 21km speed on a treadmill – 30 seconds on, 30 seconds off. You do 20 sets of sprints. It’s very hard and I’m doing that on tired legs.”
Sundays are a day off but Tony admits the intense training routine has often left him feeling exhausted:
“It doesn’t get any easier as you get older.”
Tony has been on a strict diet to achieve his ideal fight weight.
And he’s been packing in the protein to repair and build muscle.
He says: “I have four to six meals a day. Breakfast is protein porridge and I have protein shakes after workouts. My diet isn’t scientific but relies on lots of fish, meat, green veg and carbs. It could be steak in peppercorn sauce with spinach.
“I like white fish, wholemeal pasta and broccoli and I eat a lot of rice, pasta, turkey and salmon. “In terms of snacks I’ll have protein bars. I’m not a fruit fan but I’ll have the odd banana.”
Once a month he lets himself have a Chinese, opting for his favourite dish – sizzling beef. His other guilty pleasure is Mr Freeze ice lollies.
Tony adds: “I’m not into calorie counting – I just believe in eating clean, consuming small meals.” He’s been teetotal while in training. And though he does enjoy the odd tipple when he’s not preparing for a fight, he isn’t a big drinker anyway. Tony, who has been with partner Rachael since his teens, says: “I like to take the missus for a glass of wine. But when it comes to a drink with the lads I’d be plastered after four pints.”
He says: “Could I get ripped up like David Haye? Maybe not. But I will always go further than the next man.”
¬ÊWatch Bellew v Haye on Sky Box Office on May 5.