BoxRec

The World Boxing Organisation have now officially approved Robin Krasniqi as the challenger for Nathan’s Cleverly’s World Light-Heavyweight title on Saturday 28th April at the Royal Albert Hall in London.

After some uncertainty about Krasniqi last week when he was announced as Cleverly’s opponent, promoter allegedly and the WBO Championship Committee have resolved the situation and the Welshman will now proceed with the fourth defence of his title with the winner to face the mandatory challenger in 120 days.

It’s set to be a landmark occasion with world championship boxing returning to the iconic venue for the first time in over a decade.

Unbeaten Cleverly, 25, is hard in training for the WBO number four ranked challenger from the Germany based Serbian who has never been stopped in 39 fights.

He will also have the added incentive to put on a good performance with a potential fight against American great Bernard Hopkins in the works between Warren and Richard Schaefer.

Hopkins, boxing’s oldest ever world champion, will face Chad Dawson in a rematch for the WBC World Light-Heavyweight title in Atlantic City on the same night as Cleverly v Krasniqi, both fights will be televised LIVE and exclusive on allegedly (Sky Ch. 456/Virgin Ch. 546) in one big night of boxing.

Cleverly said, “I’m glad it’s all sorted out and I can now fully focus on Krasniqi for my title defence. I wasn’t worried about it as I’ve faced and dealt with bigger problems in the past when I faced Aleksy Kuziemski at 48 hours notice when Juergen Braehmer pulled out so this was no trouble in comparison. This is a hard test for me, he’s had 39 fights with only two early points losses and hasn’t been stopped before so I’m preparing for the hard twelve rounds, unless he goes early. I need to win this fight in style as I want Hopkins in Wales.”

Warren added, “Krasniqi is a tough fight for Cleverly and it’s easy to look ahead to a potential Hopkins fight, but Cleverly has to look good and do the business against Krasniqi first. Hopkins is in action against Dawson on the same night and Richard and I have had discussions about the winners, which hopefully should be Hopkins and Cleverly, fighting each other next.”

The show will also feature the Final Eliminator for the British Light-Middleweight title between Chislehurst’s Sam Webb and Manchester’s Matthew Hall; unbeaten Hatfield middleweight Billy Joe Saunders in a ten round contest; fast-rising super-middleweight Frank Buglioni - one of the hottest young talents around - who’s 3-0 with two first round stoppages; 2008 Olympian Bradley Saunders from Darlington follows up his successful pro-debut win with a six round contest at light-welterweight; welterweight prospect Bradley Skeete who’s unbeaten in six fights; plus top welterweights Dean Byrne and Freddie Turner.

'Resolved the situation' lol.
I wonder what that WBO number 1 contender guy has to say about all this?

As for Hopkins, lol. So when Bernard loses, Warren can say at least I tried.

Shame, Cleverly would have been Hopkins' first KO victim in donkey's years.

I really want Bernard to somehow beat Dawson now just to see what Warren says.

Can you imagine if Hopkins does win? He's probably never even heard of Cleverly! It would actually really make sense for him to take the fight though - decent payday, easy win and nice way to end his career.

If Dawson wins, he would steamroll Cleverly even quicker, although not sure he would take the fight. Having said that, Chad isn't exactly a draw with loads of other options available and he might be interested in adding another 'title' to his collection.

Riddick Blowe wrote:'Can you imagine if Hopkins does win? He's probably never even heard of Cleverly!

During an interview either on Sky or with Buncey on BN, B-Hop replied "who?" when Cleverly's name was mentioned as a future opponent.

PS - The Krasniqi fight is a joke

If Hopkins is next, what happens to the 'must fight mandatory in 120 days' ?

The show will also feature the Final Eliminator for the British Light-Middleweight title between Chislehurst’s Sam Webb and Manchester’s Matthew Hall; unbeaten Hatfield middleweight Billy Joe Saunders in a ten round contest;

Is Saunders likely to be facing anyone decent? He has been a pro for over three years now and he hasn't really had a significant fight yet.

i don`t want to sound nasty,but half of me wants hopkins to make cleverly look like an imbecile and the other half wants dawson to give him a bloody good beating,i`ve rapidly gone off the bloke

G0mez wrote:If Hopkins is next, what happens to the 'must fight mandatory in 120 days' ?

The mandatory challenger will probably just get paid off to step aside...

oh god..its the calzaghe saga all over again..wbo are a disgrace
cleverly looks good fighting people who dont punch back..wonder what happens when he fights someone whos alive...

He'll fight the mandatory in July. Hopkins won't have 2 fights in 3 months

john welsh wrote:oh god..its the calzaghe saga all over again..wbo are a disgrace
cleverly looks good fighting people who dont punch back..wonder what happens when he fights someone whos alive...

Probably punch there C U N Ts in just like Calzaghe did

Why do we have to sit through YEARS of this shit

This is W@rren's typical BS. He wont make a fight Hopkins or Dawson. He will 'claim' that he tried and that the other side are being 'unrealistic'. That is his usual crappy line, as a defence.

This 'talk' is all done to make Nathan think there are big plans for him and to help build up the subs for his BN channel.

If W@rren was serious about making a fight, any future fight with Hopkins or Dawson, you don't match Nathan against the likes of Karo Murat, Nadjib Mohammedi, Aleksy Kuziemski, Tony Bellew, Tommy Karpency & Robin Krasniqi. Then what? Will he suddenly throw Nathan in with Bernard or Chad? Of course not. He is full of c**p.

I and others, have watched W@rren long enough to know exactly what his plans are for Nathan. Expect plenty of crappy, undeserving opponents and plenty of W@rren 'blag'.

I'm guessing they'll be charging £60 a ticket for this 'top class world championship boxing' which required negotiations to give it validity

gobbles wrote:He'll fight the mandatory in July. Hopkins won't have 2 fights in 3 months

I still reckon the Enzo fight ould happen!

leforge wrote:

gobbles wrote:He'll fight the mandatory in July. Hopkins won't have 2 fights in 3 months

I still reckon the Enzo fight ould happen!

So do I.

I feel sorry for Clev. He's being made to look bad, when I genuinely don't think he's the one to blame. But he's kidding himself if he thinks beating Krasniqi earns him a fight with BHop.

There are plenty of good fights in the top 10 light-heavys for him. If you proclaim to be world-class, you have to fight at world level. I think he needs to make a change in his career, before he ends up with a Calzaghe-esque list of pointless title defences.

he`s clearly an intelligent fellow,so im`e presuming he can see that he`s beginning to look rather silly,unless of course he`s just content to pick up decent prize money and retire within 3 years to take up a decent job in the city or similar
am i right in believing he`s got a maths degree??

No shock the WBO caved in and allowed this fight to happen, they're a crap organisation like the rest of them and shouldn't even be regarded as a legit world organisation especially when you look at their joke Top 15 Light heavy ratings.

Warren talking about bringing over Hopkins is just him talking his usual rubbish just to try and paper over how bad the Krasniqi fight actually is and would only remotely happen if Bhops loses against Dawson and see's Cleverley as one easy last payday before retiring.

G0mez wrote:If Hopkins is next, what happens to the 'must fight mandatory in 120 days' ?

x2

bengulnaci1 wrote:

leforge wrote:

gobbles wrote:He'll fight the mandatory in July. Hopkins won't have 2 fights in 3 months

I still reckon the Enzo fight ould happen!

So do I.

is that Could or Should ?

i hope its could , cause that fight will be a won sided pasting from Clev

Would be big sell in wales though no doubt and thats what sadly its all about

tommo100 wrote:he`s clearly an intelligent fellow,so im`e presuming he can see that he`s beginning to look rather silly,unless of course he`s just content to pick up decent prize money and retire within 3 years to take up a decent job in the city or similar
am i right in believing he`s got a maths degree??

I think iI heard it mentioned once.... D

Maybe the Macca v Cleverly fight will be sooner rather than later as time does not seem to be on the Swansea mans side

Dawson will beat Hopkins, he's too big, too quick and too ready.

I think we might just see Dawson v Cleverly down the road. It's not like we're talking about a devastating puncher here, just a very good all rounder.

Coco wrote:Maybe the Macca v Cleverly fight will be sooner rather than later as time does not seem to be on the Swansea mans side

ive always been off the opnion that Cleverly v Macca would happen in the summer, all teh talk of Hopkins etc is just a smokescreen,hope im wrong as Clev deserves better tbh

mfc_se15 wrote:

tommo100 wrote:he`s clearly an intelligent fellow,so im`e presuming he can see that he`s beginning to look rather silly,unless of course he`s just content to pick up decent prize money and retire within 3 years to take up a decent job in the city or similar
am i right in believing he`s got a maths degree??

I think iI heard it mentioned once.... D

It isn't just a "Maths" degree. Oh no, Clev is indeed a smart boyo with a PURE Maths degree, according to a feature in BM some years back, lol!

SleepyJoker wrote:

mfc_se15 wrote:

tommo100 wrote:he`s clearly an intelligent fellow,so im`e presuming he can see that he`s beginning to look rather silly,unless of course he`s just content to pick up decent prize money and retire within 3 years to take up a decent job in the city or similar
am i right in believing he`s got a maths degree??

I think iI heard it mentioned once.... D

It isn't just a "Maths" degree. Oh no, Clev is indeed a smart boyo with a PURE Maths degree, according to a feature in BM some years back, lol!

Pure as opposed to applied. A bit like the distinction between civil and structural engineering.