Tony Bellew: 'I have to earn my shot at cruiserweight'

British boxer Tony Bellew has admitted that he has to earn a world title shot at his new weight.

The former light-heavyweight star moved up to cruiserweight recently, after a comprehensive defeat to Adonis Stevenson.

'The Bomber' faces Valery Brudov on March 15 and is under no illusions about the task ahead of him.

"My two goals in boxing are to earn a living for me and my kids, and to become world champion," Bellew told Boxrec.

"I am ranked number seven with the WBC at cruiserweight already. I will go in with Valery Brudov, he has had more knockouts that I have had fights.

"This is a new chapter, a new beginning for me. I have to earn my shot now, the way I did at light-heavyweight. I have to show I am a top cruiserweight and an A-level fighter."

Bellew takes on Brudov at Liverpool's Echo Arena a week on Saturday.