Former Cruiserweight world champion and Everton fan Tony Bellew reckons there was a Toffees player who could’ve become a professional boxer.
Tony Bellew is a huge Everton fan and constantly donned the badge on his boxing shorts throughout his career.
Bellew even won the world title at his beloved Goodison Park back in 2016, stopping Ilungu Makubu in the third round.
He’s recently appeared on the Wayne Rooney Show and was asked whether the former Toffees star could’ve followed his footsteps as a professional boxer.
Wayne Rooney.
Photo by Elianton/Mondadori Portfolio via Getty Images
Tony Bellew explains why Wayne Rooney could’ve become a boxer
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney show, Bellew said he has seen Rooney fight and is convinced he’s got the ability to box at a really high level.
“Wayne can fight, yes,” the 42-year-old said.
“I wish, no I don’t wish actually, no I don’t have to, I don’t have a way to say. He does have ability, he’s a sportsman, he’s a professional athlete, but he’s talented across different sports.
“He could have definitely fought 100%. And then you’ve got to look at, you know, his uncle Richie, who’s a mate of mine, I’ve known him for a long, long time, Richie Rooney, who’s, you know, ran Crocs with ABC from the get-go, is a brilliant coach.
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“He spent time in there, you know, his nephew now boxes, who plays for Everton as well, and little Shea.
“There’s that many of them. And they’re all fantastic sportsmen. It’s just the way they’re named, Rooney, just, it could take to anything.”
Bellew added: “And I say, boxing is, I’ve said this from the get-go, boxing is probably 70% mental and 30% physical. You don’t get to the levels he’s got without being mentally strong. He would adapt that, and he would use it to his advantage, and he would figure a way through it, without a shadow of a doubt.
“So yeah, I wouldn’t doubt him in a boxing ring.”
Jake O’Brien could’ve become a boxer
Current Toffees defender Jake O’Brien could’ve genuinely become a boxer if he hadn’t decided to pursue a career in football.
O’Brien was a national boxing champion when he was around the ages of 13 and 14, growing up in Cork, Ireland.
The 24-year-old was a talented Hurling player, too, and has previously admitted that he might go back into the sport when he retires from football.