Liverpudlian boxer Tony Bellew wants to drag San Francisco-born Andre Ward out of retirement for a match-up, as one of Bellew's few remaining fights before hanging up his gloves.

Many in the sport, both from within boxing and his fan base, have called for him to retire, and at 35, without the media or money pulling power of the current crop of heavyweights, their advice could be right.

Bellew recently dispatched a verbose and parochial David Haye in their rematch at London's O2 Arena, but the fight was anything but vintage; something closer to taking candy from a baby. He looked composed, had good ring craft, but the fight was a mismatch. 

Andre Ward, 37, is a classy fighter, but retired last year from an illustrious career that saw him win an Olympic gold medal in 2004, before embarking on an undefeated professional career of 32 fights, 32 wins, 16 by way of knockout.

Prior to hanging up his gloves, Ward had suggested a possible fight against Bellew in the cruiserweight division, but since retirement has spurned Bellew's advances.

Earlier this year, he did consider coming out of retirement, but his acting career ('Creed' and 'Creed 2') and as a presenter on US televisions 'The Contender' are filling his schedule. Following Bellew's win and challenge to Ward, the American told Fight Hype recently: "I’ve been blessed. I just got off the set of Creed 2. I’m on my way to the set for The Contender.

“I had a great opportunity to host the show. I’m focused on that right now. I wish Tony nothing but the best.

"I’ve been waiting on a phone call from Eddie Hearn since the Froch situation happened. When he fought Mikkel Kessler for the second time. I’ve been waiting for Eddie to pick up the phone and I still haven’t got that phone call.”

Bellew, never one to keep his own counsel, has also taunted the Tyson 'Gypsy King' Fury, challenging him to get in the ring.

But there is one more opponent that he would consider fighting as well.

He's stated that he'd be keen to take on the winner of World Boxing Super Series Murat Gassiev or Oleksandr Usyk.

"The only other people who write me off are Andre Ward and possibly the winner of the World Boxing Super Series, Murat Gassiev or Oleksandr Usyk," said Bellew to Sky Sports.

"I need to be written off, I need to be highly motivated to get in there now, I am at that stage of my career.

"It has to be one of those three. Fury, Ward or the World Boxing Super Series winner."

However, the trick to ensuring that any of these verbal challenges come to fruition, is the alignment of three critical elements; the money is there, TV networks want to air the contests, and lastly (but by no means least), the three named by Bellew actually want to get into the ring with him.

Fury's future hinges on a few good comeback fights to assess whether he still has the hunger, so a match-up with Bellew might not eventuate.

Gassiev, at 24 and only really starting his career, may view a fight against the Briton as a retrograde step, while Usyk, 31, will invariably assess what happens next after his Super Series fight.

And, as stated earlier, Andre Ward is busy with movies and his burgeoning TV presenting career, fronting a reality TV show focused on this year's crop of boxing contenders. A reversal against Bellew would put a blemish on an exceptional boxing career and dent his credibility, not to mention drag attention away from the TV show.