NATHAN CLEVERLY: HOW LONG WILL HE LAST?

[loaded_gloves]

Mindboggling. Outright barefaced corruption. The WBO is a disgraceful organisation, no wonder they are so favoured by British promoters.

[palooka]

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

Yes; that is an eye opener :x thanks for the effort and sentiment

[Realistic]

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

So are you saying Tony Bellew poses no major threat?

[loaded_gloves]

Tony obviously is a threat because he can punch and once again last night Cleverly was wobbled by a non-puncher, that being said those clearly are shameful rankings.

[crusader]

It has been mentioned that Clev's last two opponents came in on short notice, but from their perspectives Clev was a short notice opponent as well. Do people really think that Kuziesmki had been preparing for a world title bout for months like Clev had? No way. Had Mohammadi (sp) been preparing for a world title fight? No. I don't understand why Clev should be let off the hook in these cases. Clev had been preparing for Braehmer, who is a clear level above both Kuziesmki and Mohammadi, so I don't understand why Clev should be entitled to struggle against those two simply because they weren't his original opponents. Given their caliber, Clev should have beaten these guys handily, regardless of their short notice status.

Clev can keep getting by these EBU level (Kuziesmki, Mohammadi) and fringe world level (Murat) types, but I won't like his chances if he steps up against the bigger boys of the division.

[youngrell]

I think in the post-fight interview when FW said 'the Polish guy' kinda summed up how much of a 'world title fight' this was, but what do you expect Cleverly to say when interviewed? "I was in against a really poor guy and this is not a world title at all, in fact please don't call me champion", hardly promoting himself is it? As long as we, as the fans, know what's wrong and what's right what does it matter?

In response to the thread question, I think he can be competitive with the top boys, his work rate alone makes me fancy his chances with Dawson, but I think Pascal punches too hard and he'll never be in a position to tempt Hopkins into a fight. So I think he's in a decent position, give him a few more fights and then get a unification fight, most of the others are 'up and coming' too so I think he'll do ok. He does look vulnerable though and I can always feel a KO loss coming. Like someone else said though I think he's one of these fighters who will step his game up when his level of opponent does.

I think he's a nice guy and exciting to watch so good luck to him I say, get off his back!

[alexpaterson]

I can see Gutknecht getting a shot at him next, that would be a fairly easy night for Nathan IMO.

[loaded_gloves]

Cleverly just mumbled his way through a BBC breakfast interview. Predictably there was no mention from the BBC 'sports reporter' of Bernard Hopkins, and Cleverly referred to his opponent as "a world class Polish guy".

Does Cleverly even believe this sh'te?

[ShadrachSimmo]

Cleverly just mumbled his way through a BBC breakfast interview. Predictably there was no mention from the BBC 'sports reporter' of Bernard Hopkins, and Cleverly referred to his opponent as "a world class Polish guy".

Does Cleverly even believe this sh'te?

You just beat me to it mate.

[Autobarn]

he is careless but that might be against guys whose power he doesn't respect.

he was willing to fight braehmer, and opponent changes can mess up your focus.

he's exciting, and he seems to have a better chin than enzo mac.

i think he sghould fight zsolt erdei, a tricky experienced little boxer with credentials (world titles at 175 and 200) and minus a major promoter (i think he left universum). bring in some british guys for the sky crowd (macca, bellew) then a proper test like erdei. then we'll see what he's about.

[Asterix]

So are you saying Tony Bellew poses no major threat?

He was saying that there are plenty of boxers in the top 15 of the WBO that don't pose a threat. That doesn't mean ALL of them.

[Boxing Pirate]

A good European class fighter. Any talk beyond that means he is vastly over rated.

He is far too easy to hit, someone like Pascal, Hopkins or Froch would rip him apart.

[SAPFO]

Why don't Clev go to Germany to sort Jurgen out and then feel justified as champ?

[Boxing Pirate]

Why don't Clev go to Germany to sort Jurgen out and then feel justified as champ?

Whilst I do not rate Cleverly, it would be silly to go to Germany, he would have to kill Brahmar to get the draw.

[righthook]

i dont rate cleverly at all, and another very average performance against a fighter who come in on 24 hours notice. shook him in the 3rd i think it was, and made cleverly look raw,

cant wait for bellew v cleverly imo the second bomber lands its all over!

[Flump]

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

x2, WBO world.

[Realistic]

So are you saying Tony Bellew poses no major threat?

He was saying that there are plenty of boxers in the top 15 of the WBO that don't pose a threat. That doesn't mean ALL of them.

No, he NAMED 16 fighters who in his opinion could either beat or have a 50/50 chance, Bellew was not in his 16 which tells me that his 14 ranking in the WBO is also a joke maybe?

[Lenny]

Why don't Clev go to Germany to sort Jurgen out and then feel justified as champ?

Whilst I do not rate Cleverly, it would be silly to go to Germany, he would have to kill Brahmar to get the draw.

Unfortunately, us Brits should be banned from saying lines like this. We are currently as bad as anywhere

[Asterix]

So are you saying Tony Bellew poses no major threat?

He was saying that there are plenty of boxers in the top 15 of the WBO that don't pose a threat. That doesn't mean ALL of them.

No, he NAMED 16 fighters who in his opinion could either beat or have a 50/50 chance, Bellew was not in his 16 which tells me that his 14 ranking in the WBO is also a joke maybe?

Bellew was not in the 16 because he is clearly a level below Cleverly at the moment.

[JC]

Why don't Clev go to Germany to sort Jurgen out and then feel justified as champ?

Whilst I do not rate Cleverly, it would be silly to go to Germany, he would have to kill Brahmar to get the draw.

Unfortunately, us Brits should be banned from saying lines like this. We are currently as bad as anywhere

The premature stoppage in favour of the home fighter is becoming as British as fish and chips.

[Realistic]

He was saying that there are plenty of boxers in the top 15 of the WBO that don't pose a threat. That doesn't mean ALL of them.

No, he NAMED 16 fighters who in his opinion could either beat or have a 50/50 chance, Bellew was not in his 16 which tells me that his 14 ranking in the WBO is also a joke maybe?

Bellew was not in the 16 because he is clearly a level below Cleverly at the moment.

OK Cheers

[loaded_gloves]

Unfortunately, us Brits should be banned from saying lines like this. We are currently as bad as anywhere

Indeed. In terms of consistent shafting of opponents, our judges and referees are either the most corrupt or inept in the world by a long way. Disgraceful.