Could Clev beat Woods

[alexpaterson]

Do you think at the moment Cleverly is ready for Woods if he loses his world title challenge or is it a step to far.

Good article on it http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8205459.stm

[Counter-puncher]

at the moment, step too far yes, but with his athletic gifts a 'peak' Cleverley would present a difficult matchup for an old Woods, becuase he would be so much quicker.

[alexpaterson]

at the moment, step too far yes, but with his athletic gifts a 'peak' Cleverley would present a difficult matchup for an old Woods, becuase he would be so much quicker.

I agree with that atm Woods has to much expereince but give Clev time and he will win imo

[Rocky Balboa]

I think Cleverly would beat Woods! Bold call given Nathan is not anywhere near as experienced as Clinton, but I reckon he would take him! Woods is getting on & has been through the mill!

[Counter-puncher]

RB i would have to see Cleverley complete 12 rounds before i would have any kind of confidence in that prediction mate

[Hagler2002]

RB i would have to see Cleverley complete 12 rounds before i would have any kind of confidence in that prediction mate

Watch the Oakey fight, he done the 12 with relative ease, he actually got stronger as the fight went on.

I don't think there will be much left of Woods after Cloud has destroyed him.

[Counter-puncher]

RB i would have to see Cleverley complete 12 rounds before i would have any kind of confidence in that prediction mate

Watch the Oakey fight, he done the 12 with relative ease, he actually got stronger as the fight went on.

I don't think there will be much left of Woods after Cloud has destroyed him.

i'd forgotten that one. someone will probably mention that Oakey got all of whatever-it-was-weeks preparation to fight cleverley.

[tonyevs]

I think Cleverly would be too young and busy for Woods. Not sure if he`d stop Woods. Lets see what Woods has left after the Cloud fight..

[whiskey]

I think Cleverly would be too young and busy for Woods. Not sure if he`d stop Woods. Lets see what Woods has left after the Cloud fight..

x2

[TheCobra]

I think Cleverly would be too young and busy for Woods. Not sure if he`d stop Woods. Lets see what Woods has left after the Cloud fight..

Agreed I think he'd have too much speed also, I think it would be a good fight to make to bridge the gap between domestic and world operators.

[Spud]

[danieljenkins]

few more fights then clev then woods be there for the taking ! clevs a world champ in the making

[whiskey]

Sounds like Frank is setting the scene ready for a lowball offer to Woods, should he get smoked by Dr Who Tardis Cloud.

He fits the bill nicely - a former world champion, coming off a defeat and the end of his career, with no more lucrative paydays left on the horizon.

Unless of course, Clinton wins.

[Autobarn]

Do you think at the moment Cleverly is ready for Woods if he loses his world title challenge or is it a step to far.

Good article on it http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/8205459.stm

Not yet. Can't see it happening. Woods for DOMESTIC belt, at 3 weeks notice?

When he has yet another crack at IBF belt?

If he wins, he won't want to fight Cleverly - hardly the big cash out, and would just remind him how he missed landing a big Calzahge fight - and wouldn't it be too big a step up for the Welshman right now?

[gemmell]

I think Cleverly would be too young and busy for Woods. Not sure if he`d stop Woods. Lets see what Woods has left after the Cloud fight..

x2

x3 cleverley looks class and you know allegedly will be getting his big wallet out if woods beats cloud..i havn't seen much of cloud but i think clev would win ud against woods..would be a huge domestic fight tho and would probably be held in sheffield.

[martin_g91]

I'm sure Cleverly would beat Woods and it would be a great achievement for him. But lets put this in perspective. With all due respect to Woods, he was never the end of the world in his prime. One paced (and that pace aint fast), not bad all rounder who will always be undone at the highest few levels.

Cleverly should jump at it for the name on his record.

[Spud]

Again -

[Coco]

I think Cleverly is hugely overrated

[Deserter]

I think Cleverly is hugely overrated

I don't think he's hugely over-rated, but equally, I'm surprised at how many people think he could already take Clinton. Say what you want about Woods, but he's been campaigning at the highest level for some time now and while he fell short against Tarver he's put in some strong showings against Johnson, Gonzalez etc.
Cleverley seems to have bags of potential, but it's so difficult to judge because he hasn't even stepped up to Euro level competition yet. We've all seen fighters who've promised so much but then have literally fallen apart when they've stepped up their competition.

[Coco]

I think Cleverly is hugely overrated

I don't think he's hugely over-rated, but equally, I'm surprised at how many people think he could already take Clinton. Say what you want about Woods, but he's been campaigning at the highest level for some time now and while he fell short against Tarver he's put in some strong showings against Johnson, Gonzalez etc.
Cleverley seems to have bags of potential, but it's so difficult to judge because he hasn't even stepped up to Euro level competition yet. We've all seen fighters who've promised so much but then have literally fallen apart when they've stepped up their competition.

The reason he has not been stepped up and been fed on African novices is because FW doesn't have enough confidence in him.
The reason he has spent so much time and effort into the Welshman is just to stick two fingers up at the Calzaghe camp as he was the only one to jump ship.

[Autobarn]

he's obviously good and it only really took 2 fights to prove it

late notice oakey

(interval -KO some easy opponents)

then prospect mcintosh

BUT - what is the plan - hope Woods wins back title, challenge Woods? Or use Woods who's been KO'd by Cloud as stepping stone to IBF title shot? In which circumstances do they want Woods? Obviously they are eyeing up the fight as you don't often hear FW fighters calling ppl out.

[mickey1975]

cleverley has benefited greatly from joes split with fwank.if they were still together,nathan would probably still be doing 8 rounders.similar to macarinelli,it would be almost unheard of for a fw fighter to be knocked out 3 times out of four and not be dropped.

[Deserter]

I think Cleverly is hugely overrated

I don't think he's hugely over-rated, but equally, I'm surprised at how many people think he could already take Clinton. Say what you want about Woods, but he's been campaigning at the highest level for some time now and while he fell short against Tarver he's put in some strong showings against Johnson, Gonzalez etc.
Cleverley seems to have bags of potential, but it's so difficult to judge because he hasn't even stepped up to Euro level competition yet. We've all seen fighters who've promised so much but then have literally fallen apart when they've stepped up their competition.

The reason he has not been stepped up and been fed on African novices is because FW doesn't have enough confidence in him.
The reason he has spent so much time and effort into the Welshman is just to stick two fingers up at the Calzaghe camp as he was the only one to jump ship.

Sorry Coco, but I don't fully buy this argument. FW has definitely given Cleverley more love than he normally would due to the JC situation, but Cleverley's 'road map' under FW doesn't appear to differ significantly from other prospects that he's groomed. In fact, you could argue that putting him in with the then unbeaten Mackintosh was a riskier fight on paper than ones the likes of Hatton were having at a similar point in their careers under Frank.
I like Cleverley's temperament, his body shots and his work-rate, he also seems to be maturing nicely into the light-heavy division and packing more of a punch as a result. Too early to say if he'll go all the way, but as I said previously, I don't think he's massively over-rated.

[Spud]

Nathan Cleverly has done extremely well - however its been at domestic level - he has yet to prove what he is capable of at European or World level.

Whilst I appreciate Clinton Woods is getting older - he has operated at world level for a number of years - again some of you may have an opnion that Woods is not quite what you would call world class - lets use that analogy of "fringe" world class - nonetheless its a significant step up to what Cleverly has operated at - and thus I am seriously concerned yet again at some people's boxing knowledge how assumptions can be made that Cleverly would sweep past Woods. You have a right to your opinions but where does rational thinking come into your assumptions and what evidence do you have that Cleverly can operate at world level?

Also many of you assume that if Woods loses against Cloud he will immediately take a fight with Cleverly - I will be stunned if he does - why on earth would a fighter who has fought for World titles suddenly want to prove himself at domestic level once again? - Clinton Woods is having is last assault at World level - I am positive if it does not work out - he will enjoy life with his lovely wife and family instead of fighting up and coming upstarts.

Woods has looked after himself financially and not wasted his money - he loves working when he is not boxing - he will be comfortable once he calls it a day and thus I cannot see Woods ever fighting Cleverly unless the welshman rapidly proves himself at world level and puts himself in line for a crack at a world title.

The only other way I can see the 2 fighting is if absolutely ridiculous money is offered - and I am told Cleverly's promoter is not in a position to do that!!!

[Coco]

Sorry Coco, but I don't fully buy this argument. FW has definitely given Cleverley more love than he normally would due to the JC situation, but Cleverley's 'road map' under FW doesn't appear to differ significantly from other prospects that he's groomed. In fact, you could argue that putting him in with the then unbeaten Mackintosh was a riskier fight on paper than ones the likes of Hatton were having at a similar point in their careers under Frank.
I like Cleverley's temperament, his body shots and his work-rate, he also seems to be maturing nicely into the light-heavy division and packing more of a punch as a result. Too early to say if he'll go all the way, but as I said previously, I don't think he's massively over-rated.

IMO Clev is solely domestic class. I regard him as hugely overated because he get talked about in world class. His road map does not significantly differ from FW's 'favourites', but you have to appreciate that he has many other fighters who do not get the same opportunities, normally it is only his more talented fighters who get this treatment.
Mackintosh had limited amateur experience and had been groomed as well, so don't think he was being matched tough, you won't get easier matches than the Welshman has had at championship level.
Nevertheless as you said, Hatton had the same padding, but then Hatton was a big ticket seller and was always going to go further, whereas I feel Clev is only being looked after in this way due to FW sticking the proverbial two fingers up! The Welshman could not sell out his front room.
I do agree he is looking good, but then it is easier to do so against weak opposition, and the fact he has a few stoppages now says far more about his opposition.
Anyway I would actually prefer to be wrong because I like Cleverly, and of course time will tell