TONY BELLEW shrugged off the pressure of being matched up with another knockout artist by labelling himself as a ‘smashing machine’ yesterday.
‘The Bomber’ had the entire press conference eating out of the palm of his hand as he waxed lyrical about imported Hungarian opponent Jindrich Velecky and what he was planning on doing to him when the bell goes tomorrow night.
“I’m a smashing machine, it’s just what I do,” boomed Bellew, who already has seven knockouts on his 10-0 record.
“This guy poses a real threat. He’s got 15 knockouts in his 16 wins but I’m sending him home with a disfigured face.
Stephen Smith has had to face up to a change of opponent tomorrow.
He had been lined up to box South African former Commonwealth title challenger Harry Ramogoadi, but he was replaced yesterday by Redcar record spoiler Gavin Reid.
Not that ‘Swifty’ was at all fazed, the 7-0 24-year-old featherweight prospect remarking: “As long as there is someone in front of me when the bell rings that is all that matters to me.
“Opponents change, that’s boxing. But this guy is a proven puncher too. He stopped John Donnelly (Liverpool bantamweight) last year so he comes to win. So I’m looking forward to it.”
With older brother Paul centre stage, Smith admits that it’s going to be a testing night for the family.
He added: “I just have to try and concentrate on my own fight then I can support Paul and enjoy seeing him be crowned British champion.”
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