Cleverly in cloud cuckoo land...

[Jack B]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/wales/24358753

For somebody who is clearly intelligent, his mindset seems somewhat delusional! Firstly, there is zero interest in the fight, secondly, taking an immediate rematch against a guy who destroyed you is plain stupid.

I'd have thought he'd be better off having a few confidence boosting fights (inc. Maccarinelli which would do financially well in Wales) before targeting Hopkins or Shumenov next year.

[JimStone]

Any light-heavyweight that is even within sniffing distance of a match with Kovalev should keep throwing his name out. If Ryabinsky throws some cash at Kovalev in 2014, which is quite possible, there might be a few trips to Moscow and some rich pickings to be had.

[taffytoon]

I think that is a recycled story buddy, Nathan has recently said he wants to have a go at Cruiser. Is this the right move? Only he knows I suppose.

[danconnollyeire]

Crazier things have happened. Clev is cleaver so if he can really analyse his flaws and why he got caught easier, adjust his tactics and styles and turn it in to a jab-and-run fight, then it's not impossible. He has quick fists so a get in-get out style could win. Worse fighter have beaten better fighters

And if he wants to take on the best rather than fight cherry pickers, even if it means losing, good on him. We critisice people for weak fights but when they want to fight the best, we call them crazy

[ste1983]

I think that is a recycled story buddy, Nathan has recently said he wants to have a go at Cruiser. Is this the right move? Only he knows I suppose.

Bunce rubbished the cruiserweight rumour on his show yesterday, said he'd spoken to Nathan directly at Dean Powells funeral and quoted him saying he wanted the rematch

[taffytoon]

I think that is a recycled story buddy, Nathan has recently said he wants to have a go at Cruiser. Is this the right move? Only he knows I suppose.

Bunce rubbished the cruiserweight rumour on his show yesterday, said he'd spoken to Nathan directly at Dean Powells funeral and quoted him saying he wanted the rematch

Then who knows? Nathan himself said during live coverage on Sky that he was going down the cruiser route, Nicky Piper and Glenn Mc advised him against it. Maybe he has listened to them? Time will tell I suppose.

[DMA1987]

I for one think the result would be the same, but putting in a good performance against Kovalev and losing will be better for his career/profile than an easy win against some lower level fighter.

And lets be honest, does anybody really want to see Cleverly in with the likes of Hawk again? I can't be bothered to watch him rebuild, keep sticking him in at the deep end, its the only way he will retain any kind of profile.

[stujones]

I think any rematch should be build as redemption or retirement.

I think Clev is the type of fighter who always had visions of never losing and to "accept" such a loss is to suggest it was some kind of freak result that wouldn't happen 9 times out of 10.

Clev loses again he retires IMO.

[stevedoc]

i cant see warren going along with it myself , cleverley was hurt by every shot that landed and he's just not in the same league as the russian .if cleverley has this fight again he'll get KOd again maybe even quicker this time .

[black panther]

He needs to learn to box on the outside with discipline and use that lanky frame of his. For a man of his height, who doesn't possess a big punch, to have developed a style where he is predominantly at mid range and on the inside is crazy. To move forward he needs a new trainer and a series of fights where he can practice fighting on the outside and sticking to it. I'd say three fights before he is thrown in at the deep end again. To be honest though; I'd steer well clear of Kovalev. The guy can box with the best of them as well as bang.

[ste1983]

He needs to learn to box on the outside with discipline and use that lanky frame of his. For a man of his height, who doesn't possess a big punch, to have developed a style where he is predominantly at mid range and on inside is crazy. To move forward he needs a new trainer and a series of fights where he can practice fighting on the outside and sticking to it. I'd say three fights before he is thrown in at the deep end again. To be honest though; I'd steer well clear of Kovalev. The guy can box with the best of them as well as bang.

I'd agree with that, whether the 2-3 fights were exciting or kept his profile or not hes still young enough to change the way he boxes and will need some easier fights to put this into practice.

Can't see him getting rid of that clown of a dad though

[JimJim2009]

Maybe he needs a promoter with the foresight to add a rematch clause to the deal, as Eddie is doing ahead of Barker's trip to Germany in December. Its an insurance policy, basically. W arren openly admitted that he'd not got such an agreement with Kovalev.

The problem for Nathan is this. On Planet Cleverley, this is a rematch that needs to happen. But, on Planet Earth, nobody cares and nobody wants to see it, as Nathan is basically seen as a protected fringe world champ who got absolutely clobbered when he faced a live opponent.

I like Cleverley and wish him well by the way

[taffytoon]

Whatever he decides to do I wish him all the best. He has been given a lot of stick but he really is a genuine nice down to earth bloke who is very likeable.

[lefty]

I think that is a recycled story buddy, Nathan has recently said he wants to have a go at Cruiser. Is this the right move? Only he knows I suppose.

He said he was thinking about moving up to cruiserweight, not that he definietly is. Also on the telecast of the Stevenson-Cloud fight he said he was weight 14 stone and that's him out of training! If he fights at cruiserweight not only is he going to be competing with guys naturally bigger than him but secondly if he cant really punch at light heavy then what the hell is his power going to be like at 200?!

[The Law]

I think that is a recycled story buddy, Nathan has recently said he wants to have a go at Cruiser. Is this the right move? Only he knows I suppose.

Bunce rubbished the cruiserweight rumour on his show yesterday, said he'd spoken to Nathan directly at Dean Powells funeral and quoted him saying he wanted the rematch

Then who knows? Nathan himself said during live coverage on Sky that he was going down the cruiser route, Nicky Piper and Glenn Mc advised him against it. Maybe he has listened to them? Time will tell I suppose.

Nathan said to me that he would like the rematch but if it doesn't come about then he would rather box at cruiser .... It's very unlikely that a rematch will take place. We shall see what he decides because he doesn't seem too sure at the moment.

[stujones]

Maybe he needs a promoter with the foresight to add a rematch clause to the deal, as Eddie is doing ahead of Barker's trip to Germany in December. Its an insurance policy, basically. W arren openly admitted that he'd not got such an agreement with Kovalev.

The problem for Nathan is this. On Planet Cleverley, this is a rematch that needs to happen. But, on Planet Earth, nobody cares and nobody wants to see it, as Nathan is basically seen as a protected fringe world champ who got absolutely clobbered when he faced a live opponent.

I like Cleverley and wish him well by the way

Yeah, true on your first point - but lets wait and see if Sturm sticks to the rematch clause before saying its a great move by Eddie. If Felix wins a close but fair decision, then he could stick 2 fingers up to the IBF and even if Baker wins a vacant title in London, people will not see him as true world champion.... only a povetkin style champion.

Similarly, we know how much pull Sturm has with the IBF.... Sam Somilman won the eliminator and has been cleared since, but it is Sturm who is mandatory. I reckon Soliman might scupper any immediate rematch clause.

[Chris W 1982]

WOW. A boxer wanting to avenge a defeat

[deadpan]

Did you see the fight?

He's got more chance of avenging the Scotland-Wales World Cup qualifier in 1977.

[Chris W 1982]

I agree but what do people expect him to say?

[palooka]

I agree but what do people expect him to say?

Nathan has seemed level headed and honest in the past; I'd have imagined that he'd have said that he was caught early and tried to get through but Kovalev was too much, he could also have said that he's trained non stop for months and months and he needs a rest and then he'll regroup and get back into contention; maybe that he can see where he went wrong and that he could rectify his defense and get another world title shot in a year or so? Something more realistic and believable.

[Horse]

For somebody who is clearly intelligent, his mindset seems somewhat delusional!

Cleverly doesn't really seem particularly bright to me.