NATHAN CLEVERLY: HOW LONG WILL HE LAST?

[loaded_gloves]

I have to admit to being a little dismayed by what I'm reading on BBC sport - a lot of stuff about Cleverly's 'first title win', him saying how he is "living the dream", and how he'd fulfilled the ambition he's had since he was a kid... which must mean he dreamt of beating a mediocre sub, on a little cut after getting rocked, in a fight that no serious body would ever sanction as a defense. He obviously can't trouble Hopkins, Pascal or even Dawson so it is a bit weird that we have crowned him a 'world champion'? Is this label getting cheaper by the year?

How long will this guy last? Even against a very weak opponent he was staggered, and he doesn't look to have much going for him.

Chris Finnegan must be spinning in his grave!

[loaded_gloves]

"The Welshman said: "It feels great to finally say Nathan Cleverly light-heavyweight champion of the world: what a feeling. This has been my destiny, and something that I'd dreamt about since I was 11 years old. It's the night I've dreamt of and now I'm living my dream."

[crusader]

Here is something I posted on another thread:

Very bad stoppage, and the ref didn't even bring in the doctor. Kuziemski was doing way better than was expected and even hurt Clev with a left hook. I guess team Warren didn't want to take any chances that Kuziemski would continue to hold his own.

My opinion of Clev has dropped over his last two fights. He has had major struggles against Euro level opposition. I think he will lose to the first geniune world class opponent he faces.

[ShadrachSimmo]

Braehmer would have tested him. I dont know why Cleverly was saying that he knew Braehmer didnt fancy the job. Cleverly may be a world champion but he's far from being elite the top boys would take him to school big time.

[JC]

Here is something I posted on another thread:

Very bad stoppage, and the ref didn't even bring in the doctor. Kuziemski was doing way better than was expected and even hurt Clev with a left hook. I guess team Warren didn't want to take any chances that Kuziemski would continue to hold his own.

My opinion of Clev has dropped over his last two fights. He has had major struggles against Euro level opposition. I think he will lose to the first geniune world class opponent he faces.

I agree, that the Pole could have been trouble had the fight been allowed to go on. I think the stoppage was very fortunate for Clev with the way he was approaching the fight showing his opponent no respect. Not saying he would have lost but I think the second half of the fight could have got very hairy.

I was also surprised at his Dad's reaction in the corner after the round when Clev was caught and staggered with the left hook. He should have been reading him the riot act for waving the Pole in like that when he was clearly on slightly wobbly legs.

[fearce]

I think cleverley takes to many shots and will be found out when he faces a big puncher

[palooka]

I think cleverley takes to many shots and will be found out when he faces a big puncher

There is every chance he will never face a big puncher. Other boxers have had long reigns as 'World Champion' and faced relatively weak opposition and avoided the real dangermen. I'm not convinced that Nathan will demand the very best opposition and further that Mr W arren would allow him to face the very top men.

[Newport Daz]

I think he will last a while because the WBO will rate however Warren tells them to. Cleverley will be served a diet of British and Euro level type fights for a while to hone and improve himself. In fairness to the boy his last 2 fights have been against very late subs. I think he will get to world level eventually

[Cas]

I don't think he can compete with the big boys..

[Loftgroov]

Cleverly vs Froch would be good to see.

[palooka]

I think he will last a while because the WBO will rate however Warren tells them to. Cleverley will be served a diet of British and Euro level type fights for a while to hone and improve himself. In fairness to the boy his last 2 fights have been against very late subs. I think he will get to world level eventually

I agree Daz and it's a bloody strange world when someone who may get to world level eventually is already a World Champion

[ryan917]

Cleverley reminds me of Paul Williams. Long gangly arms, good workrate, but very vulnerable!

[loaded_gloves]

I agree Daz and it's a bloody strange world when someone who may get to world level eventually is already a World Champion

This line summarises the whole situation in one sentence. I'm amazed by Cleverly's "realising the dream" monologues given the nature of the title, the opponent, and the shifty result. Is Cleverly completely delusional in anyone else's opinion?

The newspaper journalists are predictably hailing yet another British 'world champion' without explaining to the reader the reality of the fight, title or opponent.

[leforge]

I agree Daz and it's a bloody strange world when someone who may get to world level eventually is already a World Champion

This line summarises the whole situation in one sentence. I'm amazed by Cleverly's "realising the dream" monologues given the nature of the title, the opponent, and the shifty result. Is Cleverly completely delusional in anyone else's opinion?

The newspaper journalists are predictably hailing yet another British 'world champion' without explaining to the reader the reality of the fight, title or opponent.

It shows how popular he is there only 12 responses to this!

[loaded_gloves]

Maybe if he could somehow develop a personality people would be more interested in him?

Why can't the British isles spawn charismatic boxers anymore? We had a slew of them in the late 80s/early 90s (Bruno, Naz, Benn, Eubank, Mason) and since then there's only been Ricky Hatton, everyone else is either an arrogant Naz-impersonator or thick chav, or sometimes an ungodly hybrid of both.

[bigjack]

I think i'm going to get one of those nice sparkling belts off ebay and 'live the dream'.Clev to me is just below euro level at the moment and won't get any better because he will be fed a load of s###e lining his promotors pockets for a couple of years similar to enzo big mac.

[He's Gone Jim!]

I think Groves mandatory is the guy who knocked out Garay in 1 round and gave Diaconu a hard scrap, Chris Henry. On paper you'd favour Henry but I notice he hasn't fought for over a year.

[NazNaci1]

I'm not convinced that Nathan will demand the very best opposition and further that Mr W arren would allow him to face the very top men.

I think Nathan would be up to face anyone but Warren sure as hell won't. Look forward to more fights in Wales against not too demanding opposition, for the foreseeable future, especially with DeGale losing ( ).

[lurkyshaka]

Cleverly is a good fighter with alot of upside, but he needs seasoning and he needs to reign himself in a bit. He's way too eager to have a tear up and thought its good to watch, he'll come a cropper at some point if he doesn't start showing some caution.

Afterwards in interview we got a glimpse into his mindset...when he said he felt comfortable in there so decided to go into the trenches, but thats the wrong attitude to have. Someone smart will dupe him, they could take some sting off their punches to draw him into a scrap, then they'll let him have it full force and Nathan could end up on his back.

[Realistic]

I'm not convinced that Nathan will demand the very best opposition and further that Mr W arren would allow him to face the very top men.

I think Nathan would be up to face anyone but Warren sure as hell won't. Look forward to more fights in Wales against not too demanding opposition, for the foreseeable future, especially with DeGale losing ( ).

I agree, I think the first may be Tony Bellew?

[NazNaci1]

Tony? Tony has got a decent shout, if the weight isn't an issue. That fight was being pushed, not because of Warren but SKY, who wanted it.

Warren wouldn't let that one go ahead, for now.

[loaded_gloves]

You honestly would classify him as a 'world champ'?

Last night boxing fans should of been tearing up sports bars and taking to the streets swinging severed heads in protest at how promoters are taking huge steaming dumps on the title of 'world champion', just to fleece the public and line their pockets.

[leforge]

There was loads of welsh supporters in the crowd!

[earsjohn]

I've been a big fan of Nathans for a while and I think he'll go on to do rather well. Maybe not Lewis, Nas, Calzaghe well but I can see him being competitive with the likes of Dawson, Cloud and Pascal. He's suffered from pull outs in his last 2 fights, no fault of his own (unless you blame Braehmer pussying out on Cleverly being too imposing). What he really doesn't need is a year of stagnation.

Not sure who his mandatory will be when WBO update their rankings - a Russian chap called Sukhotsky (I know nowt about him) is currently next in line, assuming Braehmer isn't reisnstated as No 1 challenger. The rest of their rankings are filled with some uninspiring Europeans and Africans. I can certainly see Warren going down the domestic superfight route with a fight against Bellew, but for that fight to be truly desirable, Bomber has to convince in his rematch with McKenzie.

[exittored]

I think there's 8 current Light Heavyweights who would beat him if they were his next fight.

Bernard Hopkins, Jean Pascal, Chad Dawson, Glenn Johnson(if he moves back up), Tavoris Cloud, Zsolt Erdei, Ismayl Sillakh, Beibut Shumenov.

and 8 that i think it'd be a 50-50 fight.

Juergen Braehmer, Luis Garcia, Adrian Diaconu, Viacheslav Uzelkov, Yusaf Mack, Gabriel Campillo, Chris Henry, Hugo Hernan Garay.

But looking at the last WBO rankings we know that Warren can have him defend his 'World title' against completely obscure fighters from all around the world that won't pose any major threat.

Champ JUERGEN BRAEHMER GER
Interim NATHAN CLEVERLY GB
1 Dmitry Sukhotsky (Int-Cont) RUS
2 Braimah Kamoho (WBO Africa) GHA
3 Soulan Pownceby (Asia-Pacific) USA
4 Eduard Gutknecht GER
5 Marcus Vinicius de Oliveira (Latino) BRA
6 Tomas Kovacs (WBO Europe) SOL
7 Zsolt Erdei HUN
8 Kariz Kariuki (Oriental) KEN
9 Chad Dawson NZ
10 Karo Murat GER
11 Aleksy Kuziemski POL
12 Isaac Chilemba MAL
13 Denis Simcic SLO
14 Tony Bellew GB
15 Viacheslav Uzelkov UKR