Tony Bellew has backed the Liverpool crowd to play a "massive part" in his fight with Isaac Chilemba at the Echo Arena tonight.
The 30-year-old, who squares off against the Malawian at the waterfront venue of his hometown, thinks that the support from the locals will help him in his quest for victory.
"The crowd can play a massive part for me in this fight," Bellew told reporters.
"I've been in big fights and I've felt the roar the Echo Arena can make. It will help come the eighth, ninth and 10th rounds. This is not going to be a quick, explosive fight – this is going to be a long, hard fight.
"When you are going out for the later rounds and you are tired, the roar and screaming will pick me up."
As many as 8000 spectators are believed to be there to watch the fight inside the venue.
