The Wales manager lost on points - 1-0 - although if it really was a boxing match then the contest might have been stopped around half-time, such was the dominance the Canadians had shown before the interval.
The friendly - but it was hardly that - was a lot more even in the second-half, which ended with some fiery exchanges between Bellamy and the Canadian bench after the Wales boss felt irritated by Jesse Marsch’s premature handshaking with his own assistants.
“Performance-wise, there were a lot of positives,” said Bellamy, who suffered his first home defeat and second overall in his dozen matches in charge.
“We needed to play, we needed to create angles because of how aggressive their press is.
“I thought we stopped their press. They weren’t able to trigger by being patient and then using it, looking to break the lines.
“Their physicality, I've got to be honest, we found it difficult to counter-attack them. They have a real electric speed.
“They have very good physical profile. And you can see that at times in duels, they were able to secure the ball.
“It’s so important. If you don’t win your duels, it’s very difficult to maintain attacks.
“So we had to buy extra passes. But when we did go more direct and then the ball became free, we weren't able to secure it as much as we needed to. Against a team like this, you have to be able to really have consistent attacks on their goal.”
The game was settled through Derek Cornelius’ spectacular first-half free-kick, but a youthful Wales team had plenty of chances of their own.
Striker Mark Harris missed a big opportunity in the final minute of normal time, but the physicality and power of the Canadians - who are joint hosts at next summer’s World Cup - was an instructive experience for Bellamy’s youngsters.
“We need to play top teams,” added Bellamy.
“We need to play them because of the speed, the transition, all these moments, the physicality.
“We have to move the ball quicker, we have to make decisions quicker and that's what we need to be exposed to.”
The match ended in the same mood in which it was played - hostile, with the Wales manager hoping the rivalry might be resumed in nine months’ time.
It may not have been a World Cup qualifier but Bellamy in sisted: “I still wanted to win, trust me.
“Honestly, I'm actually really not happy because I really hate losing more than I like winning.
“There's a big difference in that and I see him (Marsch) celebrating at the end.
“I’m thinking, ‘I hope I see you at the World Cup. I hope I see you again.’
“But I also have to be gracious. Jesse was shaking his coach's hands before the final whistle. I have to get used to that.
“I don't want to get used to it. But yeah, I have to take it on the chin. It was more like, please, celebrate after the whistle.”
There were plenty of nods towards the future. Cardiff right-back Ronan Kpakio made his debut and Leeds midfielder Charlie Crew his first start, two teenagers aged 18 and 19 respectively.
In the second-half, Joel Colwill and Kai Andrews came on as substitutes.
“Playing at the top level allows you to expose our players to that. And this was the opportunity of being able to do that today.
“I don't do excuses. I don't talk about process and this and that. I'm in the here and now, I want to win.
“But also it was Charlie Crew’s first start, Ronan Kpakio’s debut, Kai Andrews’ debut, Joel Colwill’s debut, and we had one or two fringe players.
“It was nice for me to give them the opportunity because they haven't had that opportunity to play because every game I've had there has been points on it.
“I needed to see the squad as well and I needed to see what they picked up with us. Can they play in our way? And I have to be honest, I was very impressed with that.
“But that speed of securing balls and seeing pressure, coming up with the ball, some of our boys have never been exposed to that. The league they're in, they're not going to get exposed to that. This is a jump.
“And then you have a captain in Ben Davies, who was incredible. They got a proper example today.
“You want to see an international footballer? You want to see what the international stage is? Hopefully, this will help them become top players for Wales in the future. But I want them now.”
