Big Interview: Tony Bellew's real Rocky story

The sport is littered with examples of where the term has been used to describe an underdog who has upset the odds and put in the fight of his life, writes Craig Birch.

The first Rocky Balboa film in 1979 was actually inspired by the world heavyweight title bout between Muhammad Ali and Chuck Wepner four years earlier.

Wepner, a journeyman known as 'the Bayonne Bleeder,' was expected to be put to the sword. Instead, he dropped Ali in the ninth, before going down fighting in the 15th and last round.

Sylvester Stallone has denied this down the line, probably down to a lawsuit Wepner filed that was settled for undisclosed terms. Either way, he wrote the Rocky screenplay in just three days.

Stallone also played the lead role, propelling a jobbing film and television actor to stardom. Over 35 years later, the series is still going strong.

Bellew comes into the equation as something different, not as an also-ran but, actually, as a hot favourite. The difference is he's actually been in a Rocky film.

The franchise was rebooted again this year with 'Creed' featuring the son of Apollo, who Rocky boxed and then teamed up with over the course of the first four films.

In the movie, Adonis Creed lands an unlikely world title shot against Bellew's character 'Pretty' Ricky Conlan, the bad boy of boxing.

As the tale goes, the undisputed light heavyweight champion wins on a split decision on his home turf, at Everton Football Club. 'Conlan won the fight, but Creed won the night.'

Now fiction becomes function for lifelong Toffees fan Bellew, who will take to the ring at the same Goodison Park to fight for the WBC world cruiserweight crown.

The chance of becoming a global ruler at the second attempt hinges on whether he can get the better of Congolese puncher Ilunga Makabu for the vacant strap.

At age 33, he may not get another chance to prove he belongs at world level. Nearly 10 years of pro boxing have built up to this day.

This is not playing around anymore, it's a moment that will mean more to him than seeing himself on the big screen if all goes to plan. There's no script, only a game-plan.

Both of the other 'real' fighters to appear in a Rocky movie, the late Tommy Morrison and Antonio Tarver, have been world champions. Bellew is adamant he'll make it a hat-trick.

Thousands of Scousers will be there to cheer him on in Liverpool's first stadium fight for 67 years. This time, it's Bellew who has his name in lights.

He said: "I've been a world champion and fought at Goodison Park, but that was all make believe. Now I want to do it for real. The dream becomes a reality tomorrow.

"It's all on me now. I'm a Scouser and a mad Evertonian. I don't care how good he is, I don't care how hard he hits, I am going to win in front of thousands and nothing will stop me.

"Being in 'Creed' has done something nuts to me, it's created a whirlwind and this is where it's taken me - it's unbelievable.

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