A HEARTBROKEN Tony Bellew is today sifting through the details of defeat but will find plentiful reasons to ease the hurt.

Should the 28-year-old need any reminder of his monumental contribution to the history of the WBO belt – and Liverpool fight folklore – then the echo of nearly 10,000 supporters offering their adoration for his brave efforts on Saturday night will be a constant source of reassurance.

Bellew and the defending champion Nathan Cleverly set a hellish pace over the championship distance and the Wavertree man, losing out on a majority decision to suffer a first career loss, has proved he now belongs in the fast lane of the 12 stone seven pound division.

Post-fight, Bellew wore the scars of battle but the strain of anguish and regret etched across his face was bringing him greater pain.

The British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion promised a lifetime of preparation was going into the bout with Cleverly and who could argue the city fighter was anything other than heroic on the biggest night of his career?

In time hopefully Bellew will come to reflect on his substantial endeavour as his beloved city does, with burning pride, but he was in apologetic mood, saying sorry to his family, coaches and supporters.

Bellew needs to know he let nobody down but the former Rotunda ABC student, relentless in his pursuit of the highest prizes in the sport, admits he is struggling to come to terms with what he considers a missed opportunity.

For the valiant ‘Bomber’, close to tears after the fight, his performance has shown himself to be operating above the level of domestic champion and promoter Frank Warren is likely to investigate the possibility of a European title shot next year.

It is with this backing and the knowledge that his idols have tasted defeat, before feasting on their greatest successes, that will give Bellew reason for hope in the coming weeks and months.

“I’m devastated,” said Bellew, now 16-1. “I made a promise to my kids and that’s the first promise I’ve ever broke to them.

“You win some you lose some, but I know it was nothing like five rounds. It was touch and go and I knew I threw the more eye-catching punches and landed the harder shots but he throws that many.

“I was slipping some but he was obviously catching me at times, just look at my face. He’s a good fighter, we knew that, but my coaches Mick McCallister and Mark Quinn prepared me and I can’t thank them enough.

“I’ll grow from this and learn. I just have to look at people like Nigel Benn, they come back form hard fights, and I never got knocked out. I lost a majority decision and it’s one of them things and I’ll come back stronger.

“I thought he was the perfect opponent to bring the best out of me. I had him hurt, I rocked him but didn’t finish him. That’s my fault. My coaches prepared me the best they could and I thank then so, so much.”

The tangible tie between Liverpool and the light-heavyweight crown remains detached for now but it certainly will not be long before Merseyside can celebrate Bellew as a world champion as it did with John Conteh.

“First and foremost I want to thank every single person who came and cheered me on,” he added.

“I can’t thank them enough because to pay for tickets is expensive.

“People work hard to earn a living and times are hard – they’re hard for me – and so I can’t understand how people can have a nine to five and spend half their wages on a ticket for the boxing.

“I thank them from the bottom of my heart and I hope I pleased them enough on the night. I emptied the tank in the last round.”