Ground Breaking Boxers

Tony Bellew

On the 4th March 2017 at the O2 Arena, Tony Bellew took on his biggest challenge yet, in his boxing career, when he fought fellow Briton and former WBA title holder, Dave Haye. Tony Bellew went onto win the fight with a TKO in the eleventh round of a contest he had dominated throughout. This was the culmination of a career which began at the Rotunda ABC, Kirkdale, in Liverpool. He enjoyed a glittering career as an amateur boxer, winning three ABA heavyweight championships. He turned professional on the 6th October 2007, winning his first fight against Jamie Amber with a TKO. This led to a highly distinguished career where his determination and resolution fed his charge to the top of the boxing tree. Starting with four successive victories for the Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title between March 2010 and July 2018. He also won the British Light Heavyweight title against Ovill McKenzie, at the Liverpool Arena on the 16th July 2011. The next target in his sights was the EBU European Cruiser weight title, which he duly secured with a unanimous points decision against Mateusz Masternak at the O2 Arena London. The drive towards the top continued with stunning successes at both Cruiserweight and Light Heavyweight world title bouts with famous victories over Valery Brudov and Adonis Stevenson. As a fanatical Everton Football Club supporter, he was consumed with delight to win the WBC World Cruiserweight title at his beloved Goodison Park, home ground of the Blues. Two lucrative successful contests fought against David Haye secured his families future and enabled him to retire from boxing which enabled him to focus on business interests outside the ring and mentoring and developing young up and coming boxing talents. Standing six feet two inches tall, Andy Palmer’s boxing all aggression style made him a huge favourite with the boxing fans throughout his eventful boxing career. He won all but four of his many bouts as an amateur, culminating in winning the ABA National Heavyweight title in 1979 and represented England on three occasions in the heavyweight class. He made his professional debut at the Wembley Conference Centre, the same year. He amassed a total of eleven professional bouts where his do or die battling style ensured none of his bouts ended in a points decision. At the age of forty-seven years old, illness tragically took him away from his family, admirers and followers. John Ireland, a well- known figure in the Liverpool boxing world, said the following: “This is a very sad loss to Merseyside Sport. I was schoolboy champion when Andy was winning ABA championships. He was a wonderful man and great inspiration for myself and other young boxers growing up in the city.