Joe Calzaghe: Cleverly Can Do a Number on Bellew!

By Edward Chaykovsky

Joe Calzaghe is backing former champion Nathan Cleverly (27-1, 13KOs) to capture another championship in the cruiserweight division. Cleverly will face Alejandro Emilio Valori at Liverpool's Echo Arena on July 12. On the same card, Tony Bellew (21-2-1, 13KOs) will also see action. If the two of them win, Cleverly and Bellew could battle each other in a rematch in November. In 2011, Cleverly won a close decision over Bellew to retain his WBO light heavyweight title.

Calzaghe told BBC: "I'm pretty confident he's going to win and hopefully go on to world honors. Bellew can punch, he's a strong fighter and he's got anger towards Nathan. I've known Nathan since he was a young boy. Nathan has the class, the ability, the heart, the speed and it's all in how he fights.

"He can make it as easy or as hard as he wants to make it - Nathan can do a number on this guy. I think the cruiserweight division is adding to his punching power along with his speed - he hasn't lost any of his speed."