Tony Bellew called for fight by Franklin trainer after Joshua clash – EXCLUSIVE

Jermaine Franklin's strength and conditioning trainer Lorenzo Reynolds wants to box Tony Bellew in an exhibition bout after their altercation at ringside following his fighter's 12-round fight with Anthony Joshua. After the final bell rang, the two boxers engaged in a bizarre shoving match in the center of the ring before being separated by security and their respective corners.

Reynolds pushed Joshua out of Franklin, to which Bellew, who worked for DAZN at night, took offense. The former world heavyweight champion began yelling at the cornerman as the pair nearly came to blows near the commentary booths. Now Reynolds, a two-time national Golden Gloves champion and undefeated former professional boxer (15-0) has issued a direct challenge to Bellew.

Speaking exclusively to Express Sport, Reynolds said he wants half of the proceeds to go to children who are battling cancer, like youngster James Lewis who dated Franklin in night: "I read an article with him [Bellew] saying he lied to me, and I just think it would be the opposite honestly. I'm in great shape. I'm in the shape of my life and he pretty much looks like a 55-year-old football dad in a suit. So if Bellew has a problem, we can organize an exhibition and donate 50% of the prize money to children who are fighting cancer, like James." p>

He added: "I really love and appreciate the way Jermaine hugged James and James went out with Jermaine and was in the locker room before and after the fight. I would also like to do my part and fight for a good cause."

Shortly after the incident, Bellew insisted he 'didn't want any trouble', but Reynolds believes the Briton had a problem from the start and recounts awkward interaction after weigh-in .

He added, "It looked like there was a problem on his [Bellew's] end before the fight. I saw him at the weigh-in. And so, after the weigh-in, Jermaine and the team, we walked around the mall for a little while and we passed Bellew, and the guy who was walking with Bellew, he shook Jermaine's hand and Bellew, he rolled his eyes and turned his body and walked the other way.

"So I don't know if he just, you know, feels like he's close to Joshua, he just must have been jerky-type demeanor. But that's what I I took away from him. So in combat, it was like, 'Wow. Okay. So there was already something there by then.'”

In a final message to his rival, Reynolds continued, "If Tony Belly, and make sure you say it, I call him Tony Belly. If he knows where the gym is and he's ready sign up for this show, so let's do it. And like I said, 50% of the money can go to cancer. We'd love to take that, and we can handle our differences in the ring, and then after the exhibition, we can drink tea.

“But, we definitely have a disagreement and like, gentlemen, let's handle it the right way in the boxing ring. ."