Albert “Prince” Bell Struggles for Chance to Prove He’s King

Albert “Prince” Bell is no stranger to waiting. After over 11 years as a professional boxer, the undefeated fighter from Toledo, Ohio has worked his way up the ranks to become the number one contender in the WBO Super Featherweight division. But despite his talent, his ranking, and the support of a city known for producing boxing stars, Bell still finds himself waiting for his chance to prove he’s the best.

Since August 2023, Bell has been the top contender for the WBO Super Featherweight title, which is currently held by Emanuel Navarrete. Yet, while Bell remains undefeated, other fighters like Oscar Valdez and Liam Wilson have leapfrogged him, securing title shots that he’s been patiently awaiting.

“It’s politics in the sport,” Bell said in an interview with Brunch Boxing. “I’m just sticking to the course.”

The frustration in Bell’s voice was palpable. Having dominated his way to the top of the rankings, Bell feels he’s being avoided. He’s called out other champions across various sanctioning bodies, both publicly and privately, but a big fight continues to elude him. Fighters he believes he can beat have seemingly dodged him, leaving him in a boxing limbo where he’s stuck waiting for his number to be called.

In Bell’s words, he doesn’t think anyone in the super featherweight division is eager to face him. “I don’t think no guy’s really interested in fighting me. I’m a tough fight for anybody in the division,” Bell explained. “I gotta get up there and take my titles by force, so that’s why I keep putting myself in position where I’m #1 in multiple sanctioning bodies.”

One fighter who Bell was eager to face was WBA Super Featherweight Champion Lamont Roach. The two had conversations about making the bout happen, but it never materialized. Bell recounted the situation with frustration, but he’s grown accustomed to fighters backing out. “They would offer me the fights, I would say yeah, and then guys would just never fight me,” Bell revealed, referencing the last few years of his career at Top Rank.

Bell eventually parted ways with Top Rank, one of the top promotional companies in boxing, but the split was amicable. “I was tired of stay-busy fights at Top Rank at the time. I just couldn’t get those guys in the ring.” Despite the frustrations, Bell still maintains a good relationship with the company, and they remain open to working together in the future.

Earlier this year, Bell had been set to fight on a Top Rank card in his hometown of Toledo, Ohio. The event, which was to be a doubleheader with fellow Toledo native Jared “Big Baby” Anderson, was unfortunately scrapped when Anderson chose to fight Martin Bakole on the August 3 Riyadh Season card headlined by Terence Crawford and Israil Madrimov. But Bell remains optimistic. He expects to sit down with Top Rank and hammer out a deal for his long-awaited title shot in the first quarter of 2025.

Bell has his eyes on all the top fighters in the division, not just Navarrete. He’s eager to take on champions like Roach, O’Shaquie Foster, Anthony Cacace, and Oscar Valdez. For Bell, it’s about seizing any opportunity he can to prove that he belongs among the elite.

For Albert “Prince” Bell, the wait for a title shot may be agonizing, but his resolve remains unshaken. As 2025 approaches, the fighter from Toledo looks to turn his long wait into a crowning moment, showing the world that he’s not just a prince, but a king in the making.

In the meantime, Bell is staying active. He’s set to headline a stacked card in Dallas, Texas, on October 26. With his title shot finally on the horizon, Bell plans to stay sharp, adding another win to his unblemished record. “I’m going to keep getting these wins in dominant fashion,” he said confidently.

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🔗Albert Bell’s Next Event:
https://www.brunchboxing.com/items-1/albert-bell%2C-tony-harrison-and-mickey-bey-headline-stacked-usa-mexico-10-v.-10-probox-tv-card

🎧Albert Bell’s Full Brunch Boxing Interview:
https://open.spotify.com/episode/4xNVlwJnV8YXHyk4yoLWHI?si=3Xvjn_XiR8eYX6ueHANo_Q