Tony Bellew retired in 2018 after a knockout loss to Oleksandr Usyk, but has remained in boxing as a pundit ever since.
Tony Bellew led an impressive career in his heyday, with wins over David Haye at heavyweight and his crowning moment – winning the cruiserweight world title at Goodison Park against Ilunga Makabu.
Bellew has remained a fan-favorite, and has built a reputation even amongst non-boxing fans after appearances on ‘I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here’ and other shows.
One show he appeared on recently was Alison Hammond’s Big Weekends, in which he made a shocking claim about his health.
Tony Bellew believes he will see signs of brain damage in a few years
In the program, Bellew spoke to Hammond, a British TV host, about his career injuries, beginning with his hands.
“I can’t punch like I used to. My hands are smashed to bits. […] I had a brilliant surgeon. He said that I’d have full arthritis by the time I was this age, to be fair, but I haven’t so I’m just cracking on.”
Hammond replied: “I’d rather it be your hands than your head.”
Bellew’s response was sobering, as he recognized that the signs may begin to show in a few years: “That’s going to come later, innit? I’ve been punched that many times to the head, it’s coming.”
“Something’s coming, whether it’s the shakes or whether I forget about [my wife]. […] I am forgetful.”
Tony Bellew reveals astronomical number of punches he’s taken
In the same program, when discussing his health, Bellew revealed the gargantuan number of punches he estimates he’s taken to the head throughout his career.
“On average, a world-class fighter, they estimate, takes 50,000 punches to the head a year. I’ve took 1.1 million punches to the head.”
This stat will include fights as well as sparring sessions, and may be exaggerated, but remains a reminder of how much fighters go through to achieve greatness.