I don’t want to be famous..I want to be the guy on the No.86 bus again
BOXING ONE LAST HURRAH FOR TONY BURNS: WIN CAN FIRE ME BACK UP CARD
TONY BELLEW is only 35 but can’t wait to land a bus pass when he retires from the ring.
The Scouser has promised wife Rachael he will quit after tonight’s clash with undisputed world cruiserweight king Oleksandr Usyk and admits he hates being famous.
He can’t wait to do mundane things like catching the bus, which he used to do when he was an amateur with the Rotunda club in his native Liverpool.
“I just want to be normal,” Bellew said. “I don’t want to be famous anymore.
“What you take for granted I want to get.
“I miss things like getting on the bus. I used to get the 86 and the 27 to go to the Rotunda club.
“I’ll get the bus again. I’ll have a year away from all this and I’ll be able to do those things.
“I just hate fame and after Saturday night I let it go. You won’t see me call out BY DAVID ANDERSON Andre Ward or that midget Adonis Stevenson, so it’s over. I’ve got no plans of facing anyone else.”
Bellew claims he has come to terms with retirement after 33 fights in his 11 years as a pro because he has achieved all his goals.
He won the WBC cruiserweight title on an emotional night at his beloved Goodison Park and made millions in his two wins over David Haye.
He said: “Fighters over the years have always had the ‘What if?’ and that sad story of it’s someone else’s fault, I should have done this or that.
“I won’t be one of those fighters. I’ve taken every opportunity I could. I am the epitome of someone who has come from f**k all and made the most of every chance.”
Unbeaten Usyk is the first cruiserweight to hold all four major belts and hopes to impress in Manchester to earn a shot at Anthony Joshua.
But massive underdog Bellew claims this will help him. The Englishman said: “He does not get to Anthony Joshua by coming here and scraping past me.
“He has to get into a firefight and that’s what I
wish for.” RICKY BURNS insists taking care of Scott Cardle tonight is his stepping stone back to the big time.
The former three-weight world champion is desperate to get back in the world title mix but admits time is not on his side at the age of 35.
Burns took the Cardle contest at short notice after Joe Cordina pulled out but is determined to make the most of his ring return, BY MICHAEL GANNON with a win over Ivan Njegac his only fight so far this year.
The Coatbridge ace wants another crack at Anthony Crolla, who is in action against Daud Yordan this evening, and the chance to avenge his defeat in Manchester last year.
Burns said: “I’m not oblivious to the fact I’m coming to the back end of my career but there’s still life in me yet. Just ask the lads I train with.
“There are some big fights to be made in the lightweight division and a win here in front of such a large pay-per-view audience will put me further in the frame for next year.
“The Manchester crowd last time out was fantastic and Crolla is fighting on the bill.
“I’d still love that rematch down the line but first and foremost Scotty has my full attention.”
Former British lightweight champ Cardle is out to get his career going again following recent defeats to Robbie Burnett and Lewis Ritson.
The Lytham-based fighter, whose family are from Glasgow, said: “I have to stay sensible and use my boxing knowledge.
“I have underachieved and have so much more to give.”