Who Wins? Bellew or Cleverly...

[Gazmac81]

Cleverley for me

seems to have good chin and great workrate , will stick it close to Bellew and wear him down
similiar to what he done against oakey

Bellew might lose head at some point and nut him though -gets a bit emotional

expect to see plenty off Cleverly sticking tongue out and tapping chin

Looking forward to it

[Dioufy]

I laughed at people who fell for Audley's words versus Haye, and at the start of this whole debacle, I thought Clev was a level or two up on Bell's, but now I've been caught up. I think Bellew can win this - I don't know a boxer who I think wants this more. Against all the odds, I think maybe Bellew can overwhelm him.

And win on points. I expect Bellew to box on the back foot.

[Counter-puncher]

I expect Bellew to box on the back foot.

I think i agree mate, i expect Bellew to try and set a trap and walk Clev onto a big one.

[MightyWarrior]

Bellew might be overrated, but I reckon Clev is too. He certainly seems to be overrating his own chin, and I think Bellew packs enough power to give him a massive shock.

I can see Bellew catching him early and really hurting him, but think Clev is tough enough to come back and maybe return the favour - but TB catches a still shaken Clev later on for a shock win.

Should be good....we'lll see

[Dioufy]

I expect Bellew to box on the back foot.

I think i agree mate, i expect Bellew to try and set a trap and walk Clev onto a big one.

Are we expecting a shitter of a fight for the first 6 rounds? If Bellew wants to rumble, this'll end up like the McIntosh fight. Bellew needs to fight on the backfoot, wait for the opening, then catch Clev, which I think he can do. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a SD or MD, you know.

[Counter-puncher]

I expect Bellew to box on the back foot.

I think i agree mate, i expect Bellew to try and set a trap and walk Clev onto a big one.

Are we expecting a shitter of a fight for the first 6 rounds? If Bellew wants to rumble, this'll end up like the McIntosh fight. Bellew needs to fight on the backfoot, wait for the opening, then catch Clev, which I think he can do. I wouldn't be surprised if this is a SD or MD, you know.

I'm not, mate. I expect Clev to come out and set a fast pace.

[allahsnackbar]

bellew needs to be coming forward to land power shots imo. he couldnt throw power shots vs mckenzie because he was fighting on the backfoot. he is usually flat footed and coming forward which means he can set himself to land his power shots. however, fighting on the backfoot he will struggle to get proper power shots off due to his not-great footwork. i think he should come forward and engage in toe to toe warfare to test clevs chin. if clev can take the shots, then bellew should revert to a plan B of running and trying to "masterclass" his way to a points win

[youngrell]

Cleverly for me. I think Bellew's power is over rated and I think people are making too much of a fuss about Cleverly's tendency to hang his chin out or care-less-about-being-hit attitude, when he knows his opponent has the power to trouble him I think he will be more cautious, up until now he's been able to play with most of his opponents. This and the fact that Bellew has struggled with much less stellar opposition than Nathan Cleverly.

In saying that I wouldn't mind who wins, I like watching both, but I will be rooting for Clev as I can't stand all the Bellew fans who have been saying 'Tony to brutalise him' etc etc when he's never brutalised anyone, never mind the best fighter he's faced thus far. I like it when people have to shut up DD

[allahsnackbar]

Everyone talks about Bellews tactics, but what should Cleverly do?

I think he should be popping out his jab continually and then try to work his way inside. I don't think Tony has an inside game. It's a mismatch when they are on the inside and that is where Cleverly can rip him apart with short crisp shots in combinations. It will suit him if Bellew comes to fight because he will be able to get inside easier. I would also advise him to go to the body because Bellew looks a bit soft to the body. I think Nathan should come forward and engage.

The perfect fighter to beat Cleverly is a Hopkins or Dawson who are counterpunchers extrodinaire. Cleverly usually only gets caught with counter punches after his attacks because he tends to stay inside after he is finished punching and doesn't bring his guard fully back up after he is finished throwing his shots. So a counterpuncher would really think Christmas had come early vs Cleverly because of all of the opportunities to counter. Bellew is not a counter puncher. He has been an aggressive come-forward fighter who lands his shots on the front foot. He doesn't have the ability to get all of his power in counters imo.

So I think Nathan should continually try to get in close and throw his 5/6/7 punch combos.

If Tony is not able to hold or maul Cleverly up close and stop him working, he will find life very difficult indeed.

[dohboy]

Have to go out for a friend's birthday on Saturday. What time will Clev/Bellew start approx cos I plan to sneak off to watch

[bad mamma jamma]

if bellew wins I will post a pic of my missus fallating the insurance man. he has neither the power nor the skills to beat clev. only way he will win is if he runs for 12 rounds and gets a hometown decision. bellew seems a good chap, and is a character but needs more fights to be ready for this sort of challenge.

[Counter-puncher]

bellew needs to be coming forward to land power shots imo. he couldnt throw power shots vs mckenzie because he was fighting on the backfoot.

he knocked him down heavily with a counter left hook in the first fight

[black panther]

I'm going for Bellew for the upset. Cleverly is hittable.

[Cas]

Clev in Round7. Bellew will have his moments early but Clev will get to him in the middle rounds.

[allahsnackbar]

bellew needs to be coming forward to land power shots imo. he couldnt throw power shots vs mckenzie because he was fighting on the backfoot.

he knocked him down heavily with a counter left hook in the first fight

I thought that was a left hook he threw as he was coming forward. mckenzie had his hands down and was near the ropes, fatigue was setting in and bellew stepped in on the attack with a beautiful left hook. it wasnt a counter, i have never seen him effectively counter anyone

[milpool]

Cleverly, late stoppage. With all due respect to Bellew I think Nathan is a class above Bomber.

[Crease]

Cleverly late stoppage... But it nis a dangerous fight for him particularly in Belew's hometown.
The big danger here is if Bellew can keep the rounds close & competitive, stay busy & maybe socre a knockdown for a 10-8 round, then this fight could be his for the taking under the hometown favourite decisions (which we are seeing all the time now).

But despite all that, I fancy Cleverly to stop him.

[righthook]

if bellew wins I will post a pic of my missus fallating the insurance man. he has neither the power nor the skills to beat clev. only way he will win is if he runs for 12 rounds and gets a hometown decision. bellew seems a good chap, and is a character but needs more fights to be ready for this sort of challenge.

we will hold you to that then

[NazNaci1]

I don't subscribe to the fact that Tony cannot outbox Nathan. I think he can, he has better fundementals. Also people have mentioned the level of opposition, well Nathan's has not exactly been stellar and I would pick Tony over any of those guys, too.

Tony was a top class amateur, who mixed in world class, in his vested days. People understate that and add to the fact Nathan likes to slug, which he will during this fight and he does get hit, then you have to say Tony has a great chance.

Nathan is very, very fit, though and has a good chin. Fitness might be the key, not the list of opponents and all that. Tony has good boxing skills and some punching power. so it's a fight, I find difficult to call, at the moment.

I like both guys, as fighters and I am sure it will a great fight. I think it really will.

[jBacca]

I'm hoping everything comes together for Bomber on the day.

Tony had it all his own way up until the Ajisafe fight. He was knocking people out left, right and centre, and was strolling towards the British.

Then he fought Bob. Looked quality for three rounds but then Bob played a tactical ace; slipping about on the back foot and in the end frustrating Tony. This was Tony's first proper challenge and he only just managed to overcome it.

Then his second challenge in McKenzie where Tony sets the plan out before the fight telling us he's going for the big knockout. We all know that Ovill goes on to knock Tony down twice, early on. Tony struggled with McKenzie early on, going for the big shot and not putting his punches together. After the knockdowns, he starts to box more, allowing the punches to flow and then scores a heavy knockdown on the way to a stoppage. Second challenge overcome, and we get to see that Tony can perform if he gets his tactics right.

Then McKenzie again to right the things from the first fight. Tony shows us a side to him that we've not seen. Boxes off the backfoot and doesn't go looking for the stoppage. It bored a lot of people but personally it pleased me as it showed he can change his plan if needed.

To summarise, all these fights where all fantastic learning fights as they were so different. The Ajisafe fight gave Tony his first true challenge mentally; the McKenzie fight showed Tony that he can't go loading up on big shots looking for an early KO; and Tony's last fight proved that he can keep his head on a game plan and box off the back foot.

Now, I truly believe that if Tony can mix up boxing off the backfoot and picking his big shots accordingly, he can stop Clev. Over a few fights he's demonstrated he can do all this but he's not yet done it on the one night. If he's to win it's got to come together, or Clev will beat him hands down.

WAR BOMBER!!

[Bomber 1]

Come Saturday, we'll see, no excuses IM RIPPING HIS TITLE AWAY FROM HIM! I will not be denied, I simply cannot afford to lose or let this chance slip by me!

Thanks to you all for the comments I can't believe te attention I am this fight are getting, thank you all so much

[tear up]

Come Saturday, we'll see, no excuses IM RIPPING HIS TITLE AWAY FROM HIM! I will not be denied, I simply cannot afford to lose or let this chance slip by me!

Thanks to you all for the comments I can't believe te attention I am this fight are getting, thank you all so much

bomb the pudendum out mate

[broomy7s]

I love but I hate this fight as I really do like both boxers and want them both to do well but I have to be loyal and stick with the scouser.

[MightyWarrior]

Clev still a firm favorite here about 70-30 %, Bellew is still 7-2 against @ the bookies.

Steve Lillis previews it in Boxing Monthly, and balances himself firmly on the fence: Bellew early or Clev on points.

[REEVE]

fingers crossed its bellew