Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Sport
Pa Sport Staff

On This Day in 2016: Tony Bellew wins WBC world cruiserweight title

PA Archive

Tony Bellew won the vacant WBC world cruiserweight title on this day in 2016.

The Liverpudlian, a staunch Everton fan, claimed the belt with a third-round knockout of Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park.

Bellew got the chance to fight for the title after reigning champion Grigory Drozd vacated it due to injury, but it looked like Makabu might win after sending the home favourite to the canvas in the third round.

Bellew recovered from a first-round knockdown to beat his Congolese opponent (Martin Rickett/PA) (PA Archive)

But Bellew recovered and delivered a barrage of left hooks in the third round that floored Makabu, with the referee intervening.

It was a glorious moment for Bellew, who won a world title at the third attempt after previous bouts against Nathan Cleverly and Adonis Stevenson had ended in defeat.

After a routine defence against BJ Flores, Bellew stepped up to heavyweight to settle his rivalry with David Haye, with two successful – and lucrative – fights.

He returned to cruiserweight to take on undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, but lost and subsequently retired.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.