By Lee Collier
Since Joe Calzaghe retired Wales has been looking for a fighter to replace him. On Saturday night Nathan Cleverly, 19-0 (9 early), put in an impressive performance when beating Italian Antonio Brancalion for the vacant European title.
Cleverly has had an impressive 18 months since beating Tony Oakey for the then vacant Commonwealth title. The 23-year-old racked up his sixth victory since the Oakey fight, with all six coming inside the distance. Cleverly also added the British title to his bow when he beat Danny McIntosh back in July of last year.
The performance against Brancalion was Cleverly’s most impressive and the fighter himself was quite rightly pleased with his performance. “I think it was my most mature performance. I boxed a little bit differently, I didn’t rush I waited for the right shots to come and I’m so happy with the finish and the performance,” said Cleverly when speaking to BoxingScene.com after the fight.
“Brancalion never committed and I had a plan going into the fight. With the British fighters like McIntosh and Oakey they come and rough you, they’re not classy they just like a brawl and that’s where I use my combinations,” explained Cleverly. “This guy stood off and had a Russian style so I picked the shots and it was a comfortable night. I never picked up the pace as I didn’t have to and I just counter punched him.”
Cleverly continued: “I just stayed focused and concentrated on not getting hit, focused on landing my shots, and eventually the finish came. I didn’t go looking for the knock out, it just happened.”
One attribute that Joe Calzaghe excelled in was impressive hand speed and Cleverly seems to have the same attribute as his fellow Welshman. “The old motto is ‘speed kills’ and that was the case tonight,” opined Cleverly.
“I have also matured in the last 18 months and have grown into a light-heavyweight. I was a good puncher in the amateurs but I turned pro at a young age at welterweight. With the extra maturity I am turning into a knockout puncher.”
Cleverly has a busy summer ahead of him as he is due to finish a mathematics degree and once he completes the course Cleverly feels that he can improve even more as he can begin to take his boxing seriously.
“I am still a mathematics student at university and I haven’t taken the sport serious yet, it’s just a hobby to me,” stated Cleverly. “I am just part time in the gym and it’s a sport that’s fun but when I graduate you’ll see an extra 25% from me.”
In an age where many fighters bypass national titles and go straight to the top, Cleverly feels he is earning respect for reaching the top the old fashioned way and feels a World title is within his grasp.
“Every title I pick up a title I get that ecstatic feeling and I’ve done it the hard way picking up all the traditional belts. I’ve gone the old fashioned route and you get more respect that way,” stated Cleverly.
“I will win a world title after I graduate in the summer if [promoter] Frank [Warren] thinks I am ready. I know I can l step up to that level and I promise I’ll take that world title.”
Cleverly isn’t the only person who feels he can win a world title this year. The Welshman has the backing of the man that matters most, his promoter Frank Warren.
“I don’t want to rush Nathan as he’s only had 19 fights but I will be very surprised if he hasn’t fought for a title by the end of the year,” revealed Warren.
