‘Bit of a hit list’: Bellchambers promises knockout and plans to keep boxing
Tom Bellchambers hasn’t stepped into a boxing ring before, but he has caught the bug and wants to keep fighting.
Boxing/MMA
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Tom Bellchambers says he has a “hit list” of former footy players he’d consider fighting if he beats Cats great Cam Mooney on Wednesday night.
Bellchambers and Mooney will both make their boxing debuts in a heavyweight bout on the undercard to Joseph Parker’s fight with Django Opelu at Margaret Court Arena.
The 33-year-old says he hasn’t had much boxing experience, but is serious about fighting beyond Wednesday night.
There’s a few former footy players in his sights too.
“There’s a bit of a hit list,” he told News Corp. “I had a few tussles with some fellow ruckmen over the years.
“I’ve definitely got the bug, so we’ll get through tomorrow night and see what comes of it.
“I’m definitely keen to stay in the sport and have another fight or two.”
Mitch Robinson shapes as a possible future opponent, after the outspoken former Carlton and Lions midfielder called out the winner of Bellchambers’ fight with Mooney.
“I don’t know if I could cut enough weight to get down to him,” Bellchambers laughed. “He’s a fellow Tassie boy and he’s fairly ambitious, so good luck to him.”
Bellchambers shared a joke with heavyweight champion Tyson Fury at Monday’s press conference, saying he’s “just an uglier version” of the Gypsy King.
The former footy player later had a chat to Fury, who is in Melbourne to support his mate Parker.
Fury had some simple words of advice for Bellchambers.
“He just told me he wanted to see fireworks, so when the heavyweight champion of the world says that, you’ve got to oblige,” he said.
“But, what a ripper. Just a genuine bloke and almost exactly what you thought he’d be from watching him on TV.”
Asked how his fight with Mooney ends, Bellchambers said, simply: “I knock him out.”
Meanwhile, Mooney, 43, is channeling memories of his earliest days in the AFL ahead of the fight.
The three-time premiership winner first laced up a pair of gloves in training sessions as a bright-eyed teenager at North Melbourne early in his career.
“When I was younger, I sparred Wayne Carey, who was unbelievable,” Mooney told News Corp.
“Micky Martyn, John Longmire, all those bigger players, and I was just an 18-year-old. I was a little boy and they used my head as a speedball.”
Despite giving up 10 years, a significant height advantage and 24kg to Bellchambers, Mooney has the greater boxing experience, having trained and sparred at Will Tomlinson’s Wildfighter Gym.
Mooney had been preparing to step into the ring with Brendan Fevola on a card that eventually fell over six months ago.
It’s a fight Mooney would still be interested in having, but his sole focus is currently on Bellchambers.
“It’s a lot different (to footy),” he said. We grew up talking about ‘us’, and ‘we’, now it’s ‘me’, and ‘I’,” he said.
“I don’t think either of us are that comfortable with it, but it’s a good experience.”
Originally published as ‘Bit of a hit list’: Bellchambers promises knockout and plans to keep boxing
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