Will Cleverly get any credit?

[lefty]

It's a 50/50 fight boxer versus puncher personally I think he's gonna really be up against it some say fish eyes is giving clev up to keep himself in with hbo

That's a bit of a silly statement. FW giving up Cleverly to win favour with HBO would be seriously detrimental to his promotional career as Cleverly is his best fighter currently and he hasnt got many fighters at the moment.

[mickey1975]

I don't think that FW is giving Nathan up at all, but if he is going to promote him as a World Champion, he has to be able to win fights like this. It's in Clev's job description and if he fails its his fault not Wazza's.

[crusader]

He's not beaten anyone top ten, looks pretty basic, head up in the air and I'm not sure he even hits hard enough to trouble Clev.

Campillo was top 10.

White was borderline top ten as well, and probably higher ranked than Bellew was when Clev beat him. Campillo was also coming off what should have been wins over Cloud and Shumenov, and was probably the highest ranked fighter among all of Clev and Kovalev's opponents.

Given Kovalev's more dominant performances against a comparable level of opposition, his seemingly much greater power, and Clev's history of recklessness, I can see why Kovalev is the slight favorite. I also think people may be focusing heavily on Clev's recent string of uninspiring wins over mediocre opponents; they obviously seem far less impressive than Kovalev's recent string of early KOs over better opposition, and I think people often conflate mediocre opposition with limited ability. Take all this and it's not difficult to promote Kovalev as the superior fighter, which can then significantly influence odds.

I think it's an evenly matched bout though, and I doubt either fighter will win 'with ease'.

[WelshJack]

We'll see Cleverly's work rate is incredible I wonder how long it will take Kovalev to run out of gas?

[Deserter]

We'll see Cleverly's work rate is incredible I wonder how long it will take Kovalev to run out of gas?

It's relatively pointless to say something like this as his workrate will be in part determined by Kovalev's power - look at how many boxers find their output dropping dramatically if they can't get 'off' against a certain opponent because they can't get set or they're too conscious of getting tagged.

[mcjarvo]

no i dont think he will this is a hard fight with not much reward, he needs a big name before people will start giving him credit. I give him credit this is a lot tougher then roy jones, Tavoris Cloud etc.

[Omerta]

If fw isn't giving clev up to stick in with hbo why else would he put his star fighter in with such a high risk low reward guy like kovalev, people saying kovalev hasn't faced any decent opposition who has clev faced.

[lefty]

If fw isn't giving clev up to stick in with hbo why else would he put his star fighter in with such a high risk low reward guy like kovalev, people saying kovalev hasn't faced any decent opposition who has clev faced.

How is Kovalev high risk and low reward? He's already beaten the likes of Campillo and White who were top contenders in the division. Campillo is an ex world champion who got robbed against Murat in one fight and a lot of people think he did against Cloud aswell. Kovalev was also mandatory to Hopkins belt but he didnt fancy fighting Kovalev. If Cleverly beats him it will give him exposure and credit in America which is the main purpose of this fight.

[Omerta]

If fw isn't giving clev up to stick in with hbo why else would he put his star fighter in with such a high risk low reward guy like kovalev, people saying kovalev hasn't faced any decent opposition who has clev faced.

How is Kovalev high risk and low reward? He's already beaten the likes of Campillo and White who were top contenders in the division. Campillo is an ex world champion who got robbed against Murat in one fight and a lot of people think he did against Cloud aswell. Kovalev was also mandatory to Hopkins belt but he didnt fancy fighting Kovalev.If Cleverly beats him it will give him exposure and credit in America which is the main purpose of this fight.

Yeah if he beats him....

[lefty]

If fw isn't giving clev up to stick in with hbo why else would he put his star fighter in with such a high risk low reward guy like kovalev, people saying kovalev hasn't faced any decent opposition who has clev faced.

How is Kovalev high risk and low reward? He's already beaten the likes of Campillo and White who were top contenders in the division. Campillo is an ex world champion who got robbed against Murat in one fight and a lot of people think he did against Cloud aswell. Kovalev was also mandatory to Hopkins belt but he didnt fancy fighting Kovalev.If Cleverly beats him it will give him exposure and credit in America which is the main purpose of this fight.

Yeah if he beats him....

What you're saying though regarding FW giving him up to HBO to stay in with them makes no logical sense though! What's the point of staying in with HBO if you then end up having no fighters that would be HBO worthy?! Yeah BJS and Gavin hopefully will in time but that makes no sense.

[Omerta]

There must be something in it for allegedly to make such a risky fight for his biggest cash cow

[Omerta]

He usually only gets involved in 50/50 fights if its a win win situation for himself ie Mitchell burns

[jameswilson]

There must be something in it for allegedly to make such a risky fight for his biggest cash cow

If Clev wins HBO will be backing him as they are getting on Kovalev at the mo. If HBO start backing Clev then the money will skyrocket.

On the point of whether Clev will get credit, absolutely he will if he wins. What gets me tho is the victim mentality of him and his fans. I mean you're asking if he is gonna get any credit as if he deserves huge credit for his career thus far. The standard of opposition he has faced since Murat has been infuriating. The way him and his team acted with the Krasniqi defence like this mandatory defence was annoying, it was his first mandatory in like 2 years of holding the belt, he's had years to get in with a worthy opponent and his team hasn't delivered. Stop blaming others and complaining when we get frustrated that after winning a vacant belt you've faced nobody. At the time of facing Clev I don't think any of his opponents have been ranked top 8 or even top 10. Bellew may be top 10 now but when he faced Clev he certainly wasn't. I know for sure Clev will face anyone out there, but if your team who make your fights aren't delivering then don't start making excuses for them and acting like the top guys won't face you.

[Omerta]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

[lefty]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

[Omerta]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

Ok so how are hbo gonna market cleverly to the yanks IF he beats kovalev bearing in mind outwith boxing there isn't even any interest in him in his own country

[lefty]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

Ok so how are hbo gonna market cleverly to the yanks IF he beats kovalev bearing in mind outwith boxing there isn't even any interest in him in his own country

Pretty easily. He'll be a world champion and they'll be able to match him up against other top guys from the division like Stevenson, Cloud, etc.

[palooka]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

I'm with columbo on this one; it depends how Nathan wins, how he looks and what his stated intentions are post fight interview; a big personality can be created by the television people out of the most introverted and 'boring' people with a few choice quotes and a good back story - tey'd have him as the punching rocket scientist or something like that.

[mickey1975]

There must be something in it for allegedly to make such a risky fight for his biggest cash cow

How is he currently a cash cow? He could certainly become one but needs to win a few fights like this first. Welsh cash cows don't fight at Wembley arena and expect Frank Buglioni to sell all the tickets. I bet he has cost FW money up until now.

[WelshJack]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

How do people like Mickey Rourke know who he is?

[palooka]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

How do people like Mickey Rourke know who he is?

Mickey Rourke needs his make up artist to remind him who he is.

[mickey1975]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

How do people like Mickey Rourke know who he is?

From the Wild Card? Or Mickey being a big boxing fan. Wasn't he playing Welshman Gareth Thomas in a movie too? Loads of reasons basically.

[taffytoon]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

How do people like Mickey Rourke know who he is?

Through Joe Calzaghe who is very friendly with both Nath and Mickey

[WelshJack]

HBO won't be interested in backing clev if he wins he isn't exciting enough or a big enough personality he won't sell in America

How do people like Mickey Rourke know who he is?

Through Joe Calzaghe who is very friendly with both Nath and Mickey

He says Cleverly is his favourite fighter, just because you don't knock people out doesn't mean you are not exciting.

[Omerta]

Clev was completely exposed this evening