Cleverley interview with Tris Dixon (Good Honest Interview)

[forcefraser]

Anyone seen any interview with Nathan after the loss? I'd be interested to know how he has taken it.

[Emmseegee]

Nathan Cleverly reflects on crushing loss to Sergey Kovalev: 'I remember thinking if he catches me, I'm gone'
Feature
Nathan Cleverly talks to Tris Dixon about the night it went wrong, against Sergey Kovalev

ON Sunday evening, I called former WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly.

Understandably downbeat and forlorn, Nathan Cleverly had lost his title to Russian Sergey Kovalev less than 24 hours earlier.

Nathan tried to assure me that he was okay, but the despondency in his voice indicated otherwise. His unbeaten record is in bits and his outlook unclear.

Read more at the link below:

Source: http://boxingnewsonline.net/latest/feat ... e-i-m-gone

[Deserter]

You beat me to it - just came on here to post it myself! Two take-aways for me:

1) Cleverley comes across well and I think it bodes well for him coming back from this in the right way. He's mature, analytical and self-aware. After reading it, surely anyone would just wish him well.

2) Great journalism from BN - I for one was desperate to hear Clev's reaction to defeat and couldn't find anything, so this constitutes a genuine exclusive. I've been critical of BN in the past in terms of not leveraging its heritage or access enough to get these types of insights but Tris Dixon has got straight on the case here and come up trumps.

Colombo, safe in the knowledge that you'll read this thread at some point, what he's saying about Kovalev's "clubbing" blows backs up what we were talking about previously.

[forcefraser]

Thanks for posting that mate. He seems to be clear enough on the fact that Kovalev was just too good, too strong.

I`d like to see him continue as I do think he could win a version of the title again. Losing to Kovalev does not make you a bad fighter. If he changes trainer and works on his power and defence, he could still offer a lot to the sport.

[Emmseegee]

When i read the interview it backed up my thoughts that Cleverley didnt fancy it as soon as he felt power in the first round. Cleverley should have been fighting a game plan similar to Stephen Smiths vs Buckland. Keep on the move, tie up on the inside. His jab was never gonna keep a guy like Kovalev off.

Anyway, i want to see Cleverley continue. I would be very surprised to see him retire at such a young age and i also still believe he has a lot to offer the sport.

[Counter-puncher]

excellent interview, well done to all concerned

[Bard of Boxrec]

How many times do we see losing fighters post-event saying things like 'Oh, I wasn't right for this one, training went badly, my auntie fell ill before the fight, I got food poisoning, it was Ramadan, I broke my back...'

No such excuses at all from Nate. Very refreshing. He's a gracious guy.

[Newport Daz]

That was an excellent interview, Cleverley came across really well. There's no way he'll want to retire after a performance like that. The competitive spirit in him will have him back in the gym. It's not like he had a Pac face first KO, he just came up against an exceptional fighter.

After he said things were difficult being tarred as a W@rren fighter, I wonder if he'll consider moving to the Hearns or getting shot of his dad? I was also a bit surprised he wasn't getting well paid for fights against Hawk, Karpency etc - it's not a joke btw. He said the money was alright. I don't know why, but assumed he was getting good money for those fights.

[WelshJack]

I think Clev is a guy that if he isn't world champion he won't want to do it anymore, safe to say in 18 months tine we may not see Clev around. Gutted.

[Bard of Boxrec]

I think Clev is a guy that if he isn't world champion he won't want to do it anymore, safe to say in 18 months tine we may not see Clev around. Gutted.

I wrote out a post asking for your insights on exactly why you are gutted as there are other fighters in the UK to support, but then I remember how deflated I felt when Hatton lost to Mayweather (I'm from just north of Manchester) so I can definitely understand it.

[big lennox]

What a great interview. Nathan has always come over well -very straight forward and pleasant. I was gutted for him, but there is no shame in losing to that guy, no shame at all. It's good that he has options - he could box again, train people do commentry, a career in finance, so the future is still positive for him.

[Asterix]

Cleverly has shown his true character in defeat. Tonnes of respect for him.

[milpool]

Nathan's got a lot more to offer the sport. I do hope he continues.

[johnswan1]

I'm glad Clev is so honest about it.

I think it was clear he lost belief in the first round and he was doomed from there.

The knockdowns looked terrible - it was as though Clev was anticipating getting knocked out cold and seemed to want out and was ready and willing to fall as soon as he was hit

[MightyWarrior]

Great to read that, so honest. I was wondering what was in his head in the 1st, if he'd felt the power and knew the guy hit harder than he'd imagined...seems he certainly did.

Shows what balls he has, knowing the other guy can cold cock him, but carries on walking a knife edge.

Anyone with half a brain watching the fight can see that at no point does Clev try for an easy way out, he's trying 100% until the end - a completely out gunned warrior.

I was shocked to see him so easily handled - always assumed his chin was excellent...seems I over rated Bellew's hitting power.

[veriton]

he talked about this being like calzaghe against lacy - it was only poor cleverley was playing lacy. it may have ruined him the same too.

cleverley has options in life so it would make sense to walk away if this one is too much to take. i hope he stays around though, once kolarov has torn through a couple more big names then maybe clev will realise he didn't do too badly after all.

chin up clev

[Finch]

How many times do we see losing fighters post-event saying things like 'Oh, I wasn't right for this one, training went badly, my auntie fell ill before the fight, I got food poisoning, it was Ramadan, I broke my back...'

No such excuses at all from Nate. Very refreshing. He's a gracious guy.

x2

Absolute respect to Cleverly for this!

Hopefully he continues. He has a huge amount of talent and can definitely come again to win a world title.

[Wrists]

Clev has a bucket load of talent and can come back and win a version of a world title again I have no doubt about that.

For me a change of trainer wouldn't go amiss. Someone like an Adam Booth would be ideal.

Kovalev is just a monster in fairness and is probably the hardest p4p puncher in the world.

Fair play to Clev for not making excuses, classy in defeat.

[forcefraser]

Kovalev is just a monster in fairness and is probably the hardest p4p puncher in the world.

What about Matthyse? He has to be a shout, or even Deontay.

[MightyWarrior]

That interview demonstrates to me why Cleverley will do well in life whatever path he takes. He's a good lad. I stand by my assertion that he should consider hanging up the gloves and getting his foot on the career ladder somewhere. As he says himself, he's not made "great money" out of boxing and I don't see that changing for him. He's achieved a lot in the sport and if he walked away now and got a decent job, more power to him. It's easy for people to tell him to carry on but I know a good few lads who achieved as much as him and more who carried on (a couple of them probably had enough about them to get decent jobs, but they chose to box on) and are now in their 40s, skint and living with the stark realisation that they are going to be struggling to get by for the rest of their lives.

Yeah agree with that. Don't think he will, but it'd be wise thing to do if the money's not been great.

He's young, bright and has got World Champion on his CV - which gets massive respect.. people will just love that.

[WayoftheCass]

Clev has a bucket load of talent and can come back and win a version of a world title again I have no doubt about that.

For me a change of trainer wouldn't go amiss. Someone like an Adam Booth would be ideal.

Kovalev is just a monster in fairness and is probably the hardest p4p puncher in the world.

Fair play to Clev for not making excuses, classy in defeat.

I don't think we can say that based on what he's done so far. For me Matthysse and Golovkin are still the hardest punchers in the game though if Kovalev can do a number on a Pascal or especially Hopkins (I'd love to see that) then my opinion may change. I to was totally shocked like everyone else by just how outgunned Nathan was. His career has been badly handled by the alleged one. Outside of Bellew he's been fighting bums in boring fights since winning the title. Then on saturday they matched him up with a monster. Fights with Hopkins, Pascal, Dawson etc would have been high profile, better money and winnable. Even a rematch with Bellew would have made more sense. Sit back and watch as everyone in the division runs like hell from this guy. It will be like Golovkin all over again.

[Old bones Ian]

Sounds like his confidence went a bit in training, maybe he watched the Russian's fights too much beforehand and read all the reports of him being underdog , and what a puncher Kovalev is.

To beat a guy like Kovalev you need complete belief in your own abilities, and maybe this time it wasn't there for Cleverly

[Datsue]

Kovalev is just a monster in fairness and is probably the hardest p4p puncher in the world.

I'm sorry to pile on, but what?

Unfounded hyperbole.

As Cass said, once he takes out a proven world-class iron chin (Hopkins, Pascal) or two in the manner that he did Clev then we can start talking that sort of nonsense, but taking out a protected paper champ really does not suddenly catapult you to ATG one-punch hitter status.

[Glass Joe]

Fight Enzo loser leaves town match.

[youngrell]

Fantastic interview and so refreshing to read such candid responses unlike most sports interviews.

I think Nathan can come back and do well, but I would strongly suggest a new trainer who has a good rep in regards to defence. Someone mentioned Adam Booth above and I think that's a good shout, keep him a bit more cautious.

Clev's jab looked good on Saturday but his defence was just woeful. He just muffed up and planted his feet still, bracing himself for Kovalev's punches, he didn't move an inch. He needed to move his head and his feet a lot more but I guess he may have just froze.

You could tell between rounds, and even after the first he didn't fancy it much and was in complete shock like he'd had a huge dose of humble pie. After the 3rd he looked like he was almost looking up at his old man saying 'I can't believe you're sending me back out!'.