Englands Tony Bellew has certainly had his disappointments inside the boxing ring.There was his majority-decision loss to Nathan Cleverly in a challenge for a light heavyweight world title in 2011.Bellews second shot at a world title went even worse. He traveled to Quebec City in 2013 and was dominated in a sixth-round knockout loss to world champion Adonis Stevenson.But then Bellew moved up to the cruiserweight division, where he has thrived. He has won seven fights in a row since the weight-class change, including an impressive and explosive third-round knockout of dangerous puncher Ilunga Junior Makabu on May 29 to win a vacant cruiserweight world title.Filled with confidence and in a groove over the past two years, Bellew, who survived a first-round knockdown by Makabu, is excited for his first title defense, which will come against BJ Flores on Saturday at Echo Arena in Liverpool, England, Bellews hometown.One of the reasons for the excitement is because the 33-year-old Bellew (27-2-1, 17 KOs) doesnt particularly care for Flores, best known these days to American fight fans as an analyst on NBCs Premier Boxing Champions cards.The fight was made because of his mouth, Bellew said. Hes been following me around for two years, saying Im not a cruiserweight, Im a light heavyweight, saying I couldnt live with him. On Saturday night I am going to show him what I can do.When I say something, I mean it. Everything hes said hes meant it and hes going to pay for it on Saturday night. Hes had [an interim] world title [fight], whereas Ive done it the hard way. Ive earned every single thing that Ive got. Ive boxed in final eliminators against top fighters, and its going to show on Saturday night.Flores, 37, of Chandler, Arizona, has been somewhat inactive. He boxed only once in 2015, losing a debatable unanimous decision to Beibut Shumenov for an interim title in July. A 10-month layoff followed before Flores (32-2-1, 20 KOs) shook off the rust with a six-round decision win against journeyman Roberto Santos in May.The so-called loss to Shumenov still burns, Flores said. I know guys cry about being robbed all the time, but in that fight, I really was robbed. I outlanded the guy by such a clear margin. If I had won that fight, or if I had been given the decision I clearly deserved, it would be a big unification fight [with Bellew].I love this fight as it is a second opportunity for me, and to beat Bellew in front of his hometown fans, it would be the ultimate example of how perseverance can pay off.After Bellew won the 200-pound world title belt, he and Flores began a heated exchange on social media. That interaction was partly responsible for Flores landing the opportunity, and when the fight was first announced Bellew said he would smash BJ Flores to bits and be the first man to stop him. Hes been mouthing off and following me around for a couple of years and Im just a little bit fed up with him now.But Flores said he is unmoved by Bellews talk of a brutal knockout prediction. He even gave him props for it.Ive never been KOd. Its been a very long while since Ive been knocked down, and Tony will come forward, Flores said. Ive rarely been hurt in my career, ever, not since my younger days. As I say, this fight has all the ingredients. I like the way he speaks his mind and how he believes in himself.He cant talk the way he has been doing and then run in the fight the way Shumenov did. Whatever gets him motivated for the fight, then thats what hes going to do. Hell see what Ive got to say in the first round. He says hes going to do this or that. He can say whatever he wants. Ill do my talking from Round 1. I am going for the KO. I dont see the need to go the distance and I dont want it to. Im going to set a fast pace from the start and Ive put the work in to make sure I can maintain that pace for as long as I need to.Bellew said he doesnt believe Flores respects him, despite his words.He says he respects me, but I know he doesnt, Bellew said. His playboy mates think I am an easy touch, but when he gets in the ring and I hit him with 10-ounce gloves on, hes going to feel it. Hes going to look across the ring at me and think, He looks a bit chunky, a bit flabby, but trust me, when I hit him for the first time hell think, What was that? The same thing Makabu thought.Flores must have some respect for Bellew, however. He traveled to England weeks ago rather than wait until the week before the fight so he could get used to the time change and to make sure he is fully adjusted. That appears to indicate that he is taking Bellew seriously.If he gets by me, then congratulations to him because this is the best version of BJ Flores thats ever been, so if he beats me then hes a real guy, Flores said. But I really feel that [Saturday] is my night. Im not worried about his predictions or his attempts to rile me. Its not going to work.Bellew, however, believes differently.Its not trash talk. Its brutal truth, he said. On Saturday night Im going to put it to bed. Cheap Kansas City Chiefs Jerseys . Artturi Lehkonen, Joni Nikko and Ville Leskinen had the other goals for Finland (1-0) while Juuse Saros stopped 28 shots. Tim Robin Johnsgard had the lone goal for Norway (0-2). Larry Johnson Jersey . -- An ugly goal by Nick Bonino helped the Anaheim Ducks overcome the defensive-minded Phoenix Coyotes on a night when their ragged power play continued to struggle. http://www.cheapchiefsjerseysauthentic.com/?tag=authentic-derrick-thomas-jersey . Laudrup revealed Thursday he was notified of his dismissal in "the briefest of letters which gave no reasons why such hasty and final action was deemed necessary. Joe Montana Jersey . 10 Texas A&Ms offence dominated as usual against SMU. Marcus Allen Jersey . Team physician Dr. Steve Traina performed the surgery Friday. Robinson was injured in a spill underneath the Nuggets basket during the first quarter of Wednesday nights loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. PITTSBURGH -- Sidney Crosby scored the tiebreaking goal late in the third period to lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to a 4-2 victory over the New York Islanders on Thursday night.Patric Hornqvist, Evgeni Malkin and Phil Kessel also scored -- each getting his third of the season -- to help the defending champion Penguins win for the third time in four games and improve to 5-0-1 at home.Crosby, playing for the second straight game after missing the first six with a concussion, scored with 2:25 left as he caught a pass from Scott Wilson at the top of the crease and quickly turned to his forehand to put the puck behind Islanders goalie Jaroslav Halak.Crosby, who also scored in his season debut on Tuesday, now has points in 10 straight regular season games dating back to last season.Kessel added a power-play goal to cap the scoring 32 seconds later.Marc-Andre Fleury stopped 35 shots while starting for the eighth straight game. Fleury won for the 19th time in his last 24 home starts and has given up two or fewer goals in five of the first six home games.Travis Hamonic and Shane Prince scored for the Islanders, who fell to 0-3-0 on the road. Halak finished with 31 saves.Prince, playing for the first time after missing five games with a lower-body injury, tied the score at 2-2 with 4:22 remaining. Fleury left the net to play a shot into the zone but the puck caromed off the boards to Prince, who put it into an empty net.Malkin had broken a 1-1 tie with 7:12 left in the third as he took a pass from Kessel and pulled up ahead of Islanders defenseman Dennis Seidenberg before placing a shot between Halaks pads.Pittsburgh won three of four against the Islanders last season, the eighth time in nine years the Penguins won the season seriess.dddddddddddd The Islanders played the second half of a back-to-back after falling at home against Montreal on Wednesday.Hornqvist opened the scoring with a power-play goal 46 seconds into the game. Pittsburgh has scored a power-play goal in all six home games.Crosby, standing at the left post, set up Hornqvist on the opposite side during a slick passing sequence that also involved Kessel.Fleury kept it a one-goal game with three saves in succession on Nick Leddys point shot, Thomas Hickeys redirection and a blocker stop on Josh Bailey. Prince later hit the post to the left of a sprawled Fleury on a breakaway.The Islanders tied it late in the second period on their 28th shot. Hamonic finished a 2-on-1 from Prince, beating Fleury to the blocker side.Game notes G Matt Murray, who led the Penguins to the Stanley Cup in June, dressed as Fleurys backup for the second straight game since returning from a broken hand sustained in last months World Cup of Hockey. ... Penguins D Kris Letang missed a fourth straight game with an upper-body injury, but he participated in Thursdays morning skate and is close to a return. ... Conor Sheary (eye) missed his fourth straight game for Pittsburgh, as did Derrick Pouliot (undisclosed). . Islanders F Nikolay Kulemin missed his second straight game with an upper-body injury. . Eric Boulton (lower body), Ryan Pulock (lower body) and Mathew Barzal also sat for the Islanders.UP NEXTIslanders: Open a five-game homestand Sunday against Toronto on Sunday.Penguins: Begin a four-game road trip Saturday at Philadelphia. Pittsburghs next home game is Nov. 8 against Edmonton. ' ' '