Why this boxer's post-fight interview has caused outrage
Fans have hit out after Tony Bellew gave a confused post-fight interview despite a heavy knockout.
The veteran English boxer put in a great effort in his eighth-round defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in Manchester this weekend.
The 35-year-old underdog, who was in his retirement fight, owned the early rounds, but cruiserweight king Usyk soon eased into his work and started accumulating rounds.
The Ukrainian eventually dropped Bellew with a beautiful left hand that sent the Liverpudlian to the canvas.
Bellew was out cold, suffering his first loss in five years.
Afterwards, while clearly dazed, he had a microphone shoved in his face and asked a question.
Then another.
It quickly became clear to everyone watching that Bellew had very little idea of what just happened, other than he’d been beaten. In fact, he said in the ring that he didn’t know how he’d been stopped.
He was gracious as always, and gave Usyk all the credit in the world, but he kept repeating everything he was saying.
He let the crowd and TV audience know that Usyk was the best fighter he’s ever fought about five times.
He gave Eddie Hearn a hug and when the crowd booed, Bellew thought they were having a go at Usyk. It took the promoter to tell Bellew that the Manchester Arena crowd was in fact booing Hearn.
But still, somehow, he was allowed to keep talking and talking and talking.
“I don’t even know what round it was,” he said, before being told it was the eighth.
“It was only the eighth, there were so many more to go, but I don’t even know what he caught me with.”
Bellew added: “He’s a great fighter. He’s exceptional, he’s done everything. I fought the very best and he’s just better than me and you’ve just gotta accept it. You come up against great people in life and sometimes you lose. I’ve got nothing bad to say about him. He’s slick, he’s strong. I give him his credit. I can’t even remember what round that was. I tried to put my foot down, I don’t even remember half the fight.”
The fact that Bellew forgot what round the stoppage came in just a minute after being told it was eighth should have been a hint that he wasn’t fit to be interviewed yet.
On social media, spectators were quick to pounce on the ugly scenes.
Stop interviewing a man that’s just been knocked out and asking the same questions. Bellew keeps repeating himself. #UsykBellew
— Luke Jackson (@LukeJackson) November 10, 2018
Poor form from @SkySportsBoxing putting Bellew in an interview seconds after being KO'd. there's a reason @joerogan don't do it in the UFC.
— Tom Sawford (@TeamSugar180) November 11, 2018
Why did they interview Tony Bellew after the fight? the dude was out of it and you could tell during the interview… shame hes retiring on a loss 🙁
— DLH (@DLHatsy) November 11, 2018
Dunno who’s idea it was to interview Bellew after the fight but it’s crazy. Can’t be interviewing fighters after being KO’d
— Seann. (@Seanwanderers1) November 11, 2018
Bellew’s head was fried there, shouldn’t interview guys after they’ve been sparked like that
— C (@csjohnsonn) November 11, 2018
Tony Bellew's post fight interview is utter, utter cringe.
— Matt Whitlock (@Whitlock101) November 11, 2018
Boxing interviews after a fighter has been KO’d are a disgrace. Bellew hardly knew where he was. That was awkward to listen to.
— 🤔 (@whatgap) November 10, 2018
The incident reminded many viewers of UFC commentator Joe Rogan’s post-fight interview with Alistair Overeem after his UFC 203 knockout defeat to Stipe Miocic in 2016.
Having been KO’d into oblivion, Overeem claimed he forced Miocic to tap earlier in the round. Rogan then asked UFC producers to show a replay of the alleged tap to prove nothing happened.
After a huge public backlash, Rogan said he would refrain from interviewing concussed fighters in the future.
Hopefully, boxing types follow that lead in the future.
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