EXCLUSIVE
Tony Bellew went through hell when he challenged Adonis Stevenson for his WBC light-heavyweight world title.
In 2013, the Scouser was coming to the end of his time in the 175lbs division, but had earned a second shot at the crown.
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Two years prior, Bellew lost a majority decision to Nathan Cleverly when challenging for his WBO belt.
After five fights to rebuild, he secured the chance to take on Stevenson - a feared power puncher who would ultimately reign for five years.
The fight took place in the champion's home of Canada and it felt as though everything was stacked against the challenger.
Bellew especially felt this when he had to make weight, knowing full well he should have already left the light-heavyweight ranks.
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Bellew recalled on talkSPORT Drive: “When I fought Adonis Stevenson, getting off the last 5lbs absolutely crucified me.
"My body was no longer allowing me to lose weight.
"I ran on a treadmill for an hour, I didn’t lose any weight with a sweatsuit on.
"I got in a sauna and didn’t lose any weight.
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“At the time, my nutritionist said, 'Your body has now gone into shutdown. The only way you can get this 5lbs off is by dragging it out of your body.'
"And that was with literally a sack full of salt and a bath so hot it burnt my skin. My backside was literally red raw, burned to the core.
"And I had to sit in this bath for 25 minutes. It's the closest I've ever come to a breakdown.
"I was watching Kevin Hart on my iPad - I was laughing at his jokes and I was crying.
"This was the day before the biggest fight of my life. I can’t explain to you.
“My friend who was with me, he was saying, ‘He’s gotta get out of this bath, he’s gonna die in this bath,’ because he was watching me do it.
"And my coach was standing there saying, 'He’s gotta make weight, it’s for the WBC title, he’s gotta make weight.'
"This was the arguing that was going on in the room at the time. It was horrific. 5lbs I lost in that bath in 25 minutes."
Bellew did indeed successfully make the 175lbs limit at the weigh-in on Friday, but it mattered not as he was weakened by the process.
Stevenson knocked him out inside six rounds the following evening.
"It wasn't good," Bellew admitted, "Because I got in the ring the next night and got the living daylights knocked out of me by Adonis Stevenson.
"I'm not gonna lie, I had about 30 good seconds in that fight and it wasn't enough."
After the loss, Bellew did indeed finally move up to cruiserweight and never looked back as he went on a ten-fight winning streak that defined his career.
He won the WBC world title in his new division in 2016, then jumped to heavyweight for two victories over David Haye.
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In November 2018, Bellew returned to cruiserweight for the final fight of his career, in which he was knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk.
It was not until December 2018, after Bellew had retired, that Stevenson was finally dethroned by Oleksandr Gvozdyk.
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