‘You CAN’T have a trainer going for a boxer’: Tony Bellew reveals he warned Jermaine Franklin’s trainer he would ‘meet him with a right hand’ after he grabbed Anthony Joshua after the final bell… but insists he ‘didn’t want trouble’
Tony Bellew has opened up on his clash with Jermaine Franklin’s trainer Lorenzo Reynolds after the American was beaten by Anthony Joshua last night – insisting he ‘didn’t want trouble’.
After the final bell rang in Joshua’s unanimous victory over Franklin, the boxers engaged in a bizarre altercation before their respective corners – and then security – were forced to intervene.
Reynolds was involved as he tried to accost Joshua after the bout. This then led to the trainer having an altercation with Bellew, working for DAZN, before the BBC’s Steve Bunce was forced to intervene before it could get ugly.
Footage from the incident showed the pair in heated conversation at ringside, with Reynolds – an undefeated former professional boxer – having to be restrained.
And following the incident, Bellew slammed Reynolds’s behaviour and revealed he threatened to ‘meet him with a right hand’ after he had grabbed Joshua post-fight.
![Tony Bellew (right) opened up on his clash with Jermaine Franklin's trainer Lorenzo Reynolds](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/02/12/69388767-11930003-image-a-3_1680435766811.jpg)
Tony Bellew (right) opened up on his clash with Jermaine Franklin’s trainer Lorenzo Reynolds
![Footage showed Bellew engaged in a heated incident with Reynolds following Anthony Joshua's win by unanimous decision over Franklin at the O2 on Saturday evening](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/02/09/69385881-11929665-image-a-5_1680423226337.jpg)
Footage showed Bellew engaged in a heated incident with Reynolds following Anthony Joshua’s win by unanimous decision over Franklin at the O2 on Saturday evening
![Bellew was led away by security while Reynolds had to be restrained during the chaotic melee](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/02/09/69385867-11929665-Bellew_was_led_away_by_security_while_Reynolds_was_restrained_du-a-1_1680425167992.jpg)
Bellew was led away by security while Reynolds had to be restrained during the chaotic melee
‘You can’t have a trainer going for a boxer,’ the former boxer told IFL TV after the incident.
‘So I said “hey lad what are you playing at?” And he’s said something and I’ve said “f*** it, let’s do it then. I’ll f***ing meet you with a right hand”… his mate apologised to me and I said “you can’t”.
‘I didn’t want the trouble with him but I just said “what are you doing?” And he went “what are you going to do?”
‘I said “what the f*** are you going to do” so I’ve stepped down like “let’s go”. I stepped aside so I thought he was going to step to me and a right hand was going to meet him.
‘But he didn’t get close enough so what do you want me to do? I was just trying to tell the man that you can’t approach a fighter, so you can’t do that.
‘It’s down to the fighters and if Jermaine and [Anthony] are having a little tussle…’
Speaking following the event, Matchroom Boxing chairman Eddie Hearn revealed the incident was provoked by Reynolds shouting at former cruiserweight champion Bellew.
‘I asked him I think he just said that [Franklin’s] trainer went for AJ or something, and he shouted something, and then he shouted something at Bellew. He’s probably the wrong person to shout something at.’
The whole altercation had begun when it appeared as though Joshua tapped the back of Franklin’s head before the American reacted angrily.
Joshua, speaking to the media after his first victory in the ring in more than two years, said he was ‘calm’, and added he was disappointed in not being able to knockout his opponent.
‘Last time I grabbed the mic, it was a bit chaotic. I’m calm; I appreciate everyone coming out this evening,’ he said, referencing his bizarre rant having been defeated by the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk for a second time in August.
![](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/02/12/69388777-11930003-image-a-4_1680435803488.jpg)
Their clash came following a bizarre post-fight altercation between Joshua and Franklin
![Joshua beat Franklin by unanimous decision in his first fight since losing to Usyk in August](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/04/02/00/69376947-11928893-Joshua_was_handed_a_unanimous_victory_on_points_having_been_take-a-83_1680391832063.jpg)
Joshua beat Franklin by unanimous decision in his first fight since losing to Usyk in August
‘Inside the ring, it is a different energy so I apologise to those watching. I respect Jermaine, Eddie [Hearn], thank you for this opportunity. Fans, thank you as well,’ he added.
‘It was important to win. Jermaine has a good duck and dive style, somebody else from Britain will probably knock him out; respect to him, he did well.
‘I should have knocked him out but it is done. On to the next. He is here to prove himself, not roll over. I wish I could have knocked him out.’
‘I try and provide for the fans,’ he said when asked who he will fight next. ‘I know who they want. They said Tyson Fury; the ball is in his court. I would be honoured to fight for the WBC Heavyweight Championship of the world. If he’s listening, he knows my promoter; we’ve had dialogue before, so let’s continue this. We ain’t getting any younger.’