Clev - this will be a "Calzaghe vs Lacy" repeat happening

[whiskey]

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/boxi ... dy-5695896?

World light-heavyweight boxing champion Nathan Cleverly is preparing for a career-first next weekend – but he is more than happy to be wearing an underdog tag.

Cleverly has had it pretty much all his own way in blasting to a perfect 26-0 record since turning pro in 2005

But when Cleverly steps into the ring to make the sixth defence of his WBO light-heavyweight title in Cardiff on Saturday it will be a new experience for the 26-year-old Welsh fighter.

For the bookies have big-hitting Russian Sergey Kovalev as the slight favourite to end Cleverly’s two-year title reign and take the belt back to his Florida home.

It’s a situation that would unsettle many world champions, but Cleverly admits he expected to be the outsider in the betting.

“It’s no surprise to see Kovalev made the favourite – he’s coming to Wales with a lot of hype and a big knockout ratio,” said Cleverly.

“But I’m enjoying that. The pressure on me is removed.

“My last couple of fights I’ve been expected to win comfortably, but the fact I am not the favourite this time is inspiring me.

“It’s keeping me on my toes and motivated and giving me that extra spark to perform on the biggest night of my life.”

Kovalev’s KO record is enough to send the alarm bells ringing. The unbeaten 30-year-old from Chelyabinsk, just to the east of the Ural Mountains dividing Europe and Asia, has stopped 19 of his 22 opponents (he has one draw on his record), 18 of them inside three rounds.

Apart from being Cleverly’s biggest test, the similarities with the Joe Calzaghe-Jeff Lacy fight in 2006 are inescapable.

Lacy was much-hyped and touted as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet when he made the trip from the States to take on a Welsh warrior.

One brutal and ruthless exercise later, Lacy’s reputation was in tatters and Calzaghe’s career and bank balance would soar to new heights.



“It’s a very similar scenario to Calzaghe-Lacy,” said Cleverly, relishing being back on Welsh soil for the first time since outpointing Tommy Karpency 18 months ago.

“Joe pointed that out to me when the fight was made – and it’s going to be a repeat happening.

“My maturity is going to allow me to stick to me game plan.

“I feel my experience over the last couple of years fighting at world title level is invaluable.

“I’m more focused and will be sticking to my game plan.

“I will not be going into it reckless like in the past when I’ve been too eager to excite and impress.”

So does that mean Cleverly, who is known for a tough chin as well as quick hands and good footwork – will be adopting a more cautious approach?

“Potentially yes,” said Cleverly, who has been putting in the sparring hours with Ovill McKenzie, who defends his Commonwealth title against Swansea’s Enzo Maccarinelli on the same Motorpoint Arena card.

“Kovalev is an explosive puncher and if you look at his record he likes to take guys out from the first bell.

“I’ve got to keep it tight and be clever, be smart.

“I may have to weather the storm early but I’ll stick to my plan and back this guy up.

“A late stoppage to impress is not a necessity, winning is.

“But a stoppage would make a massive statement.

“I feel this fight is the breakthrough fight for me in America and getting the big fights like Bernard Hopkins,” said the Welshman.

[lefty]

Im not sure this is the same as Calzaghe vs Lacy. I think Kovalev is a better fighter but we'll see on the night.

[mickey1975]

Im not sure this is the same as Calzaghe vs Lacy. I think Kovalev is a better fighter but we'll see on the night.

Than Lacy? That's revisionism at its best. Lacy was the new Tyson, everyone loved him until Joe ruined him. I was there that night and it was man against boy. Gary Shaw looked like he was going to start crying.

[whiskey]

Im not sure this is the same as Calzaghe vs Lacy. I think Kovalev is a better fighter but we'll see on the night.

Gary Shaw looked like he was going to start crying.

He must have dropped his donut, because that heartless lard-ass only started remonstrating to pull him man out, when there was like a minute left of the last round.

[lefty]

Im not sure this is the same as Calzaghe vs Lacy. I think Kovalev is a better fighter but we'll see on the night.

Gary Shaw looked like he was going to start crying.

He must have dropped his donut, because that heartless lard-ass only started remonstrating to pull him man out, when there was like a minute left of the last round.

Yeah that fight fucked him up his whole career! It wasnt just the loss but the sustained beating he took!

[Hagler2002]

It was the media and Sky/Showtime who hyped Lacy up, he was pretty average long before Joe gave him a licking.

[dookus]

It was the media and Sky/Showtime who hyped Lacy up, he was pretty average long before Joe gave him a licking.

Had he not dropped the iron-jawed Reid 4 times on route to stopping him (which was mildly controversial at the time - Reid had been hit while the ref was talking to the fighters for the first KD and never fully recovered) he probably wouldn't have got such a reputation. Cooler heads looked at his scrappy UD win against Omar Sheika as a better point of comparison.

[JC]

It was the media and Sky/Showtime who hyped Lacy up, he was pretty average long before Joe gave him a licking.

Had he not dropped the iron-jawed Reid 4 times on route to stopping him (which was mildly controversial at the time - Reid had been hit while the ref was talking to the fighters for the first KD and never fully recovered) he probably wouldn't have got such a reputation. Cooler heads looked at his scrappy UD win against Omar Sheika as a better point of comparison.

I think there was a lot of factors in him getting over-hyped, not least that he looked the part. But also he was part of Dan Birmingham's stable along with Winky Wright, and Birmingham was considered the trainer of the moment.

[dookus]

It was the media and Sky/Showtime who hyped Lacy up, he was pretty average long before Joe gave him a licking.

Had he not dropped the iron-jawed Reid 4 times on route to stopping him (which was mildly controversial at the time - Reid had been hit while the ref was talking to the fighters for the first KD and never fully recovered) he probably wouldn't have got such a reputation. Cooler heads looked at his scrappy UD win against Omar Sheika as a better point of comparison.

I think there was a lot of factors in him getting over-hyped, not least that he looked the part. But also he was part of Dan Birmingham's stable along with Winky Wright, and Birmingham was considered the trainer of the moment.

Very true! I'd forgotten about Dan Birmingham's brief-ish period as the hottest boxing trainer in the US.

[TJ77]

Nathan is not Joe not now not ever.

[crusader]

Calzaghe-Lacy comparisons are used too readily.

Putting that fight aside, what reasons are there to think that Clev will outclass and humiliate Kovalev for nearly the entire bout?

[SteveDow]

Ridiculous comparison by Clev.

Firstly Clev is not in Calzaghe's league and secondly Kovalev is not just a devastating puncher. He is also a very good technician and I expect him to win by stoppage if Clev does his usual macho act of getting into a slugging match.

[WelshJack]

Calzaghe-Lacy comparisons are used too readily.

Putting that fight aside, what reasons are there to think that Clev will outclass and humiliate Kovalev for nearly the entire bout?

Cleverly is going to prove what we already know to the doubters and show he is the best light heavyweight on the planet.

[lefty]

Im still not 100% sold on Kovalev but I think he's decent. His biggest wins have flattered him somewhat. Cornelius White was knocked out in a round by Don George at super middle and has proven to not be able to cut it at the top level and his best win is Campillo who is a genuine top light heavy but has been knocked down early in fights before. The difference between Kovalev and other guys that have knocked him down Ie Cloud, etc is he's a better finisher. During the commentary on that fight though they were saying that Campillo had a pretty awful camp leading up to that fight and that wouldnt of helped either. Going purely on what ive seen so far of Kovalev, I think Cleverly has a very good chance. It will all depend on whether Kovalev has other dimensions to him game yet that we havent seen IMO.

[whiskey]

"He isn't just a big puncher, he can box too" said Freddie Roach "He is one of the best prospects around right now"

[lefty]

"He isn't just a big puncher, he can box too" said Freddie Roach "He is one of the best prospects around right now"

I think you have to take that with a pinch of salt.

[lillywhite14]

Calzaghe-Lacy comparisons are used too readily.

Putting that fight aside, what reasons are there to think that Clev will outclass and humiliate Kovalev for nearly the entire bout?

Cleverly is going to prove what we already know to the doubters and show he is the best light heavyweight on the planet.

I like Nathan, seems a decent lad too.

Don't see anything there that can substantiate such a claim though fella! I think Clev is going to get involved and get himself stopped. He isn't hard to find.

[lefty]

Calzaghe-Lacy comparisons are used too readily.

Putting that fight aside, what reasons are there to think that Clev will outclass and humiliate Kovalev for nearly the entire bout?

Cleverly is going to prove what we already know to the doubters and show he is the best light heavyweight on the planet.

I like Nathan, seems a decent lad too.

Don't see anything there that can substantiate such a claim though fella! I think Clev is going to get involved and get himself stopped. He isn't hard to find.

I agree with that Generally regarding Nathan but I thought he boxed a very intelligent fight against Krasniqui to be fair. Clearly Kovalev is better than the former but I thought that fight showed that he could box to a gameplan.

[Freedom2013]

Could be a repeat of the Calzaghe-Manfredo early stoppage.

It Cleverly throws a flurry of feathery soft punches, the ref could jump in and stop it.

[Bard of Boxrec]

OK, as much as I love the prospect of the oddsmakers coming into a thread like this and being influenced by the idea of Nathan Cleverly winning, it looks like the lines have been set and the bookies seem to think this is a relatively close one.

It isn't though. Kovalev is going to go out there and walk through Nathan Cleverly like a hot knife through butter, and that's my official prediction. It's going to be embarrassing. I'm expecting Kovalev's fast start and Cleverly's fondness for eating punches to result in a very early KO win for the Russian, rounds 1-3.

There's a reason Nate has been protected so far and Frank is now throwing him to the wolves, or 'rolling the dice' as he put it. Still not entirely sure what these skills are that Cleverly supposedly owns, but Kovalev's ability is for real. Nice punch artillery, big power, speed, good ring generalship. Basically a lot better than Lacy. What does Nate have that is going to trouble Kovalev? Punch output? Let's see how much he throws when he is faced with a live body with power who throws back? Take away his volume, and what do you have? No power, no defence, a chin that is praised as solid by those who don't understand that he's never been hit before like he will be on August 18.

I'm telling you now. If you like money bet on Kovalev by KO, and early.

[jameswilson]

Could be a repeat of the Calzaghe-Manfredo early stoppage.

It Cleverly throws a flurry of feathery soft punches, the ref could jump in and stop it.

If Terry O'Connor is the ref I think it's a given.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Could be a repeat of the Calzaghe-Manfredo early stoppage.

It Cleverly throws a flurry of feathery soft punches, the ref could jump in and stop it.

this is the only thing I'm worried about.

I can imagine Cleverly being hurt then try to trade and Tez O'Connor diving to his rescue.

[whiskey]

Kovalev's a hard, accurate body puncher.

That is something that hasn't been mentioned very much.

[Bard of Boxrec]

Kovalev's a hard, accurate body puncher.

That is something that hasn't been mentioned very much.

I think people in general feel Kovalev's this unknown quantity who's a bit unproven and is trading on US hype, but in addition to the melange of in-ring advantages I think Kovalev has over Nate, Cleverly also doesn't have a win as good as Campillo, and I honestly think Cornelius White would take Cleverly.

Folk'll be shocked come Saturday night.

Folk'll. A rarely-used contraction. The only time I have known it to appear is in the 'Cletus, the slack-jawed yokel' song in the Simpsons.

[WelshJack]

Kovalev's a hard, accurate body puncher.

That is something that hasn't been mentioned very much.

I think people in general feel Kovalev's this unknown quantity who's a bit unproven and is trading on US hype, but in addition to the melange of in-ring advantages I think Kovalev has over Nate, Cleverly also doesn't have a win as good as Campillo, and I honestly think Cornelius White would take Cleverly.

Folk'll be shocked come Saturday night.

Folk'll. A rarely-used contraction. The only time I have known it to appear is in the 'Cletus, the slack-jawed yokel' song in the Simpsons.

You will look very silly when Clev wins and is Bellew not as good as Campillo?