Tony Bellew has been told to “bring down” his intense training regime as his fitness levels are higher than ever ahead of the rematch with David Haye.
The Merseysider is less than a fortnight away from facing Haye at The O2 on May 5, live on Sky Sports Box Office, and has primed his body physically over three months for their second showdown following his stoppage victory last March.
Bellew was even instructed to ease back in recent sessions after breaking new ground with his personal statistics.
He told Sky Sports News: “I’m 12 weeks into a 14-week camp and I wouldn’t say I was starting to tone it down, but I was ahead of schedule last week, so I’ve had to bring it down, ever so slightly.
“It’s been a tough camp, a hard camp, but I’m in fantastic shape.
“I go beyond the call of duty you could say. It’s been hard in Rotherham at times, being away from home, and back and forth.
“The training levels have been taken up. All my numbers have gone up from my stats. I’m 35, so it doesn’t get any easier, it gets tougher.
“But the fact my numbers are still going up, show that I’m still improving. I’m still getting physically better with each and every camp.”
The punishing camp has taken its toll on Bellew, who has been forced to manage his body more carefully, but insists his preparations have been expertly handled by trainer David Coldwell.
“The only difference is – now things take a lot longer to recover from,” said Bellew. “Where you would be ready to go again after an ice bath or a cryo-chamber the next day, it might be two days now before you can really push yourself and go again.
“My camp has been tailor made to fit my needs and I’ve got a fantastic coach in Dave Coldwell, I’ve got a fantastic strength and conditioner in Dave Billows, and everything has gone to plan.”
