BoxRec

Cleverly set to face Fonfara in autumn clash

Nathan Cleverly is set to face Andrzej Fonfara in a huge light heavyweight showdown this autumn. Former WBO World champion Cleverly stepped back down to 175lbs in London in May after spending 2014 at cruiserweight, and can take a major step in becoming a two-time Light Heavyweight ruler by beating the Chicago-based Pole in an explosive looking contest. Fonfara produced fireworks in April by stopping Julio Cesar Chavez Jr inside nine rounds in California to land the WBC International title, and Cleverly’s promoter Eddie Hearn says the fight will be confirmed soon after the Welshman’s team chose to face Fonfara after being inundated with potential foes.

“We have had lots of big fight offers come in from Nathan over the past few months and we have taken our time to choose the right one,” said Hearn. “The Juergen Braehmer fight was one we were very close to taking but just felt that after his big win against Chavez, Fonfara was the perfect fight on the World stage. We are working with his team on the date expected to be in October and we will release news shortly.”

Cleverly has never been anything special and Fonfara has big heart, decent pop and better overall skills, he should KO this chump inside 7.

Your thoughts on this match up??

Fonfara vs Cleverly before Chavez would have a been a 50/50 fight or slight edge for Cleverly. Don't let the Chavez fight fool us he was in with a blown up super middie who doesn't posses the boxing talent Cleverly has. Cleverly has very good shot here. Remember before up to cruser. Clev was a top 5 175'er.n This is a case Fonfara is in with a real light heavy

world ranked wrote:Fonfara vs Cleverly before Chavez would have a been a 50/50 fight or slight edge for Cleverly. Don't let the Chavez fight fool us he was in with a blown up super middie who doesn't posses the boxing talent Cleverly has. Cleverly has very good shot here. Remember before up to cruser. Clev was a top 5 175'er.n This is a case Fonfara is in with a real light heavy

Not to mention that Fonfara looked mediocre in his fight before that against Ngumbu (I only had him winning 6-4).

crusader wrote:

world ranked wrote:Fonfara vs Cleverly before Chavez would have a been a 50/50 fight or slight edge for Cleverly. Don't let the Chavez fight fool us he was in with a blown up super middie who doesn't posses the boxing talent Cleverly has. Cleverly has very good shot here. Remember before up to cruser. Clev was a top 5 175'er.n This is a case Fonfara is in with a real light heavy

Not to mention that Fonfara looked mediocre in his fight before that against Ngumbu (I only had him winning 6-4).

Yeah that Chavez fight says more about Chavez than Fonfara to me

The size of Cleverly will have absolutely nothing to do with this fight, it will come down to skills and tbh Nathan has never impressed me at all. Fonfara has more heart and b@ll$ and will beat him.

KBB wrote:The size of Cleverly will have absolutely nothing to do with this fight, it will come down to skills and tbh Nathan has never impressed me at all. Fonfara has more heart and b@ll$ and will beat him.

You say it comes down to skill and then say Fonfara has more heart and balls than Cleverly. Cleverly is a better boxer than Fonfara.

KBB wrote:The size of Cleverly will have absolutely nothing to do with this fight, it will come down to skills and tbh Nathan has never impressed me at all. Fonfara has more heart and b@ll$ and will beat him.

I lean Fonfara too but I wouldn't be surprised if Cleverly won. I think he's faster and more skilled, while Fonfara is a bigger puncher. My main question about Cleverly is how confident he is, as I thought he seemed to be lacking in it following the loss to Kovalev and I'm sure the Bellew rematch didn't help, even if he was injured. Both have solid beards, good engines, and mediocre defense, and I think that it should be an entertaining fight.

world ranked wrote:

KBB wrote:The size of Cleverly will have absolutely nothing to do with this fight, it will come down to skills and tbh Nathan has never impressed me at all. Fonfara has more heart and b@ll$ and will beat him.

You say it comes down to skill and then say Fonfara has more heart and balls than Cleverly. Cleverly is a better boxer than Fonfara.

I don't think Cleverly is all he has been cranked up to be, he looked limited taking a shellacking from Kovalev and didn't look too hot facing Bellew either but we will see who wins and how.

crusader wrote:

world ranked wrote:Fonfara vs Cleverly before Chavez would have a been a 50/50 fight or slight edge for Cleverly. Don't let the Chavez fight fool us he was in with a blown up super middie who doesn't posses the boxing talent Cleverly has. Cleverly has very good shot here. Remember before up to cruser. Clev was a top 5 175'er.n This is a case Fonfara is in with a real light heavy

Not to mention that Fonfara looked mediocre in his fight before that against Ngumbu (I only had him winning 6-4).

Fonfara injured his arm in round 3

Tough call. I'll go Fonfara. Barely.

Beating Julio means nothing. I pretend it didn't even happen. But Fonfara did decent against Adonis. Cleverly would get pollaxed by him. For that I lean Fonfara.

Clev to outbox Fonfara and get the decision. Was a little confused why there was so much hate for him on this thread, then I realised it was all from the same person... are you Tony Bellew?

This a bad matchup for Cleverly, who hasn't been the same since Kovalev.

But he'll be a good name on Fonfara's resume, as a former WBO titleholder.

He'll likely retire after Fonfara beats him.

Nathan should have fought Braehmer, someone he'd have a better chance of beating.

KBB wrote:

Cleverly set to face Fonfara in autumn clash

Nathan Cleverly is set to face Andrzej Fonfara in a huge light heavyweight showdown this autumn. Former WBO World champion Cleverly stepped back down to 175lbs in London in May after spending 2014 at cruiserweight, and can take a major step in becoming a two-time Light Heavyweight ruler by beating the Chicago-based Pole in an explosive looking contest. Fonfara produced fireworks in April by stopping Julio Cesar Chavez Jr inside nine rounds in California to land the WBC International title, and Cleverly’s promoter Eddie Hearn says the fight will be confirmed soon after the Welshman’s team chose to face Fonfara after being inundated with potential foes.

“We have had lots of big fight offers come in from Nathan over the past few months and we have taken our time to choose the right one,” said Hearn. “The Juergen Braehmer fight was one we were very close to taking but just felt that after his big win against Chavez, Fonfara was the perfect fight on the World stage. We are working with his team on the date expected to be in October and we will release news shortly.”

Cleverly has never been anything special and Fonfara has big heart, decent pop and better overall skills, he should KO this chump inside 7.

Your thoughts on this match up??

Cleverly isn't a "chump". You shouldn't call him such unless you have ulterior motives.

Cleverly is a good fighter, if you'll excuse me for not jumping on the usual "OMG THIS GUY LOST HE SUCKS!!!!!" bandwagon.

If pressed to pick a winner I'll go with Fonfara, but it's by no means an "annihilation". Fonfara is not Sergey Kovalev.

I do think Fonfara will beat Clev but it'll by no means an annihilation. Cleverly will give it a good go and could even take the win, but I just lean towards Fonfara by a close decision.

I hope Fonfara wins.....this is a 50/50 fight. I cant stand Cleverly!!

punchoutsb wrote:Cleverly isn't a "chump". You shouldn't call him such unless you have ulterior motives.

LOL "ulterior motive", yes I have a motive but it isn't "ulterior" and I called him a chump right out for the way he was raped by Kovalev and that crappy performance vs Bellew.

It's obvious that I stated flat out in the topic that Fonfara will annihilate him so why would anything need to be ulterior?

Cleverly doesn't really have much except volume and heart. I think Fonfara is a bit better in all areas and will win a decision.

Strange piece of matchmaking here.
I'd say Cleverly could outwork Braemer and pick up a 'championship' while he was at it, but Fonfara is a more dangerous opponent with no title.
I expect Haymon must have offered Clev a ton of money.

keirw wrote:Strange piece of matchmaking here.
I'd say Cleverly could outwork Braemer and pick up a 'championship' while he was at it, but Fonfara is a more dangerous opponent with no title.
I expect Haymon must have offered Clev a ton of money.

This fight I bet will be in Wales or UK.

GooalaShooola wrote:Clev to outbox Fonfara and get the decision. Was a little confused why there was so much hate for him on this thread, then I realised it was all from the same person... are you Tony Bellew?

I think People before Chavez fight would be picking Clev. That JCC win fooling people I see.

KBB wrote:

punchoutsb wrote:Cleverly isn't a "chump". You shouldn't call him such unless you have ulterior motives.

LOL "ulterior motive", yes I have a motive but it isn't "ulterior" and I called him a chump right out for the way he was raped by Kovalev and that crappy performance vs Bellew.

It's obvious that I stated flat out in the topic that Fonfara will annihilate him so why would anything need to be ulterior?

Just a little of your own wordage my friend.

Riddick Blowe wrote:Cleverly doesn't really have much except volume and heart. I think Fonfara is a bit better in all areas and will win a decision.

Agreed

punchoutsb wrote:Just a little of your own wordage my friend.

I know what it was but obviously it did not apply because I have no ulterior motive when you read the topic.

KBB wrote:

punchoutsb wrote:Just a little of your own wordage my friend.

I know what it was but obviously it did not apply because I have no ulterior motive when you read the topic.

No one ever admits an ulterior motive. That's what makes it ulterior.

Cleverly won't beat Fonfara, and got destroyed by Kovalev, but that doesn't make him a chump.