By Chris Williamson

BoxingScene.com caught up with Hall of Fame announcer Michael Buffer over the weekend to discuss his increasingly regular appearances in the U.K. and friendship with “Real life Rocky” Tony Bellew.

Buffer and Bellew have become good friends in recent times and the veteran MC believes “Bomber” can add a world title to his trophy cabinet on Sunday night when he meets Ilunga Makubu for the vacant WBC cruiserweight title at Goodison Park, the home of his beloved Everton FC. 

“Well, the UK fans are outstanding in their passion and knowledge for the sport,” said Buffer.  “I've developed a good relationship with Eddie Hearn and Frank Smith [Matchroom’s Head of Boxing Operations].”

“There's such a run of great matches out there in the UK,” continued Buffer.  “I'm flying to Scotland next Saturday for the Ricky Burns fight [Burns and Italy's Michele Di Rocco battle for one of the WBA's vacant light-welterweight titles] and the very next day will be in Liverpool for Tony Bellew's cruiserweight title challenge.”

“Bellew gets his chance for life to imitate art,” he added as the opportunity mirrors his role as world champion Evertonian Ricky Conlan in the "Creed" movie.  Just like Bellew-Makabu, the final scenes of “Creed” were set at Goodison Park.

This writer witnessed Buffer and Bellew greet warmly at last month's fight between Charles Martin and Anthony Joshua at London’s O2, so I asked about their clearly genuine friendship.  “We are good friends,” revealed Buffer.  “I first met Tony in Montreal when he was starving himself at light-heavyweight.”

On that occasion in 2013, Bellew unsuccessfully challenged Adonis Stevenson for his WBC title.  The defeat prompted a move to the 200lb division, where he is unbeaten in six contests.  That run includes a revenge win over Nathan Cleverly and in his last bout Bellew won the EBU title by out-pointing Mateusz Masternak.

“It's a difficult fight for Tony, but if he continues the form he's shown recently he can become champion,” said Buffer when asked for his final prediction on the fight.