By his own admission, Tony Bellew wasn’t the most technically gifted fighter, nor was he the greatest athlete. Bellew made a career out of being the fighter with the most guts and the biggest heart. These qualities turned the man known as the ‘Bomber’ into a world champion and almost gave Britain its first ever undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world. Now, having left professional boxing behind, it’s these qualities that Bellew is calling upon to retrain a body that after inactivity, injury and overeating has seen better days.
Just a few months ago, Bellew was stepping on the scales at 17 and a half stone, not so heavy for a normal man, but a far cry from the 14st 3lbs boxer who weighed in to fight Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in November 2018. Speaking to Men’s Health UK, Bellew explains how, at his heaviest, he was embarrassed about making TV appearances because his suits didn’t fit, and how even leaving the house became an issue. “It just got to the point where I wasn't happy within myself,” says Bellew. “At that point, the writing's on the wall if I’m being totally honest, and you've got to try and find a way through it yourself.”
Unable to train because of an injury he sustained playing football at his beloved Everton’s Goodison Park – “I snapped the ligaments in my ankle, and after 20 years of fighting, that is the most painful thing I've ever done in my life,” says Bellew – he began on a fitness regime that included mile-long swims and a low-calorie, low-fat diet.
The result of which is that Bellew is now back down to around 16 stone, but he’s not finished there. “I'm going to get into even better shape, and I'm going to gain more muscle,” says Bellew.
We spoke to Bellew about his transformation from pro boxer to contented retiree. This is Tony Bellew in his own words.
On His Diet for the Usyk Fight
“The diet was extremely strict for Usyk, it's the only time in my whole career where I've gone three-and-a-bit months without a fizzy drink, without a piece of chocolate; not a single bad thing entered my body for over three months.
“It was a long, hard camp that was dictated and driven by an insane diet of very high protein, very low carbohydrate – and they were timed carbohydrate – that went into my body. I would have them before each big session. But I got it done in the end; I made the weight and was giving a great account of myself until I was blowing out my arse after seven rounds. But listen, it's a 12-round fight. It's not an eight-round fight. If it was an eight-round fight or a seven-round fight, I'm undisputed cruiserweight champion of the world.”
On Needing a Break from Boxing
“I was past sticking to timed carbs and no shite at all, no fizzy drinks, so [my diet after boxing] was a lot more relaxed. If I wanted a fizzy drink, I was having one, if I wanted a bar of chocolate, I'd have one, but then that got out of control, hence why I gained 20 pounds upon the injury.”
“I needed a break from that way of life. My body couldn't do it anymore. I enjoyed Christmas, I enjoyed New Year and gained an awful lot of weight. I actually shed some weight again, and I got back down because I started training hard, but then the injury happened and that's when it all went to fuck to be honest.”
On How His Weight Gain Affected Him
“My suits weren't fitting at all, so I was basically just a fat fucker. I was on the verge, I don't want to use the word 'depressed' because it's used far too easily these days by people, but I'd just had enough of everything and the weight was just adding to it. It just made me not want to go out if I'm being totally honest.”
On Asking for Others Help
“I've never sought help from anyone. I'm mentally very, very tough. It just got to the point where I wasn't happy within myself. At that point, the writing's on the wall and you've got to try and find a way through it yourself.”
On Slipping Back into Bad Diet Habits
“While I've been losing this weight, I've had times where I've gone 'I've had enough, I'm having a day off'. I've ate shite, I've slipped and fell off the plan, but I've found a way to navigate back to it. You do have days where you've had enough. I'm not going to lie and say every day’s been great, it's not. I have that many issues going on in my mind, I have that many issues going on with different things, that you just you can't always stick to the plan.”
“It's easier when the food actually does taste nice because when I was on the Usyk fight, if I'm being totally honest the food tasted like shit. All of it was crap, and I was just constantly angry and annoyed. I just wanted to kill the world when I was getting ready for that fight.”
On Why He Can’t Box Anymore
“I can't punch anymore, my hands are completely fucking shot to bits. I've broke my hands six times in my career, so I literally can't, even if I wanted to, I can't anymore.”
On His Goals after Boxing
“My goal now is just to be happy, and I know that might sound stupid to some people, but I just want to be happy. When I look in the mirror I want to be able to smile and be happy with myself. I'm getting there.”
On the Chances of Us Seeing a Tony Bellew Comeback
“There's no comebacks. I've said this how many times, but I’m not coming back, I'm sorry. When I retired, I'm a man of my word, and I retired once and that was it, so there'll be no comebacks from me; there'll be no David Haye comebacks.”
On His Next Career as a Professional Golfer
“I'm trying my best to get good at golf, and I'm failing miserably.”
Tony Bellew's training and diet plan are available through the Do The Unthinkable Plan, which is a result of Bellew's partnership with musclefood.com
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Daniel is Men’s Health UK’s deputy digital editor. He’s a writer and editor with a decade’s worth of experience covering health, fitness, tech and sports. In his time at Men’s Health, he’s written about everything from Black men's mental health to The Rock's cheat days and has logged training time with NFL footballers, Olympic gymnasts and the British Army. In his spare time he enjoys fitness of all kinds, from deadlifts to long runs, and is always on the lookout for his next challenge.
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