Boxing academic Nathan Cleverly aims to further prove his fistic credentials by leaping up a division to light-heavyweight.
The 21 year old, who is a maths undergraduate at Cardiff University, feels that he can still make the super-middleweight divison’s 12 stone limit but believes he has more to offer at 12 stone 7Ibs.
“I’ve been experimenting between the weights and I just feel that I’ve got more energy at light-heavy,” He said. “I feel I can train better when I’ve got a bit more weight on. I feel stronger in general and my punches feel a bit more snappy as well.
“Obviously I’m gonna be fighting bigger men but if I can take my speed up then it’ll be no problem.”
It also appears that this new weight class will allow ‘The Clever Boy’ to showcase his skills against a higher level of opposition, with a possible fight against reigning British and Commonwealth champion Dean Francis being muted for October.
“It’s yet to be confirmed, but Francis is on the cards.” Admitted Cleverly. “It’s the fight my mind is set on at the moment.
“He is a dangerous fighter. He’s very experienced and there’s no doubt it’ll be the fight of my life.
“I know that he’s a massive puncher but my chin has been tested before. I’ve taken some big shots in sparring and I know that my chin isn’t a problem. Obviously I don’t want to get hit if I can avoid it but I’m not afraid of his power going into the ring.
He added: “I’ll have more youth about me. It’s my time now to take over. It’s time to have a younger athlete in the picture.”
Having tasted the delights of Las Vegas back in April, when he fought on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe’s clash with Bernard Hopkins, Cleverly is excited about stepping into the championship class but knows that he is still a few years away from headlining in Sin City.
“Hopefully I can stake my own claim to fight out there in the future. That’s another dream to achieve. I’ve had a taste of it now and it would be brilliant to go back there but when I beat Francis I think I’ll hang around the British scene for a couple of years and defend the titles.
“I think it would be too quick to jump into the world scene . Obviously if a chance came up I’d love to take it but I don’t think I’ll be ready for it. Two years at British level will develop me into a world beater. Also, defending the titles will allow me to keep the Lonsdale belt, which is another target of mine.”
http://www.nathancleverly.co.uk/news.aspx
Can i just say what a load of bullshit. Wales are getting a bit cocky. Dont make me remind you that enzo and locket just got exposed and calzaghe is next.
no offence, but Cleverly has not proved anything yet so i dont want to see replys takling about hes the next joe calzaghe, His boxing rec so far is a joke
9 out of 12 of his fights have been against other un rated boxers who have just come out of a loss,draw,No contest.
He has scored 3 KO's
He has not even been past 8 rounds at light heavy
quit dreaming cleverly
Just looked at boxrec,
It states he was down twice in the 1st round against Eliseo Castillo 20-1-1, then he came back to KO in 4.
Could be an early KO for enzo, I'd go for rds 8-10 though
Both of us did the same think :boxing: Checked boxrec :lol1:
I'm not sure. I'll go have a little look to see what i find out..
EDIT= This guy here:
http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=24963&cat=boxer
Dropped him 2 times in the first round according to my 'favourite site' boxrec :lol1:
Just looked at boxrec,
It states he was down twice in the 1st round against Eliseo Castillo 20-1-1, then he came back to KO in 4.
Could be an early KO for enzo, I'd go for rds 8-10 though
I have seen a few banks fights and thought he looked fairly good but that last fight was terrible he was doing ok for the first 4 rounds then just run out of gas and looked like shit for the rest of the fight he will have to make big improvements before the Enzo fight.
Enzo has pretty good stamina, So if it gos past 6 and banks tires again he is in trouble. Also, Banks looked terribly slow even at the start of the Rossito fight.
Yea, What's Bank's chin like?? his last fight was the first fight I have seen of him, Has he been down yet??
I'm not sure. I'll go have a little look to see what i find out..
EDIT= This guy here:
http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=24963&cat=boxer
Dropped him 2 times in the first round according to my 'favourite site' boxrec :lol1:
Yep. The same Rossito was KOd in 2 rounds by David Haye and Alexander Gurov. Macca isn't the best fighter ever, but i rekon he is easily good enough to beat Banks.
Yea, What's Bank's chin like?? his last fight was the first fight I have seen of him, Has he been down yet??
Yes
and Yes.
He did look utter shite against Rossitto
Yep. The same Rossito was KOd in 2 rounds by David Haye and Alexander Gurov. Macca isn't the best fighter ever, but i rekon he is easily good enough to beat Banks.
Can i just say what a load of bullshit. Wales are getting a bit cocky. Dont make me remind you that enzo and locket just got exposed and calzaghe is next.
no offence, but Cleverly has not proved anything yet so i dont want to see replys takling about hes the next joe calzaghe, His boxing rec so far is a joke
9 out of 12 of his fights have been against other un rated boxers who have just come out of a loss,draw,No contest.
He has scored 3 KO's
He has not even been past 8 rounds at light heavy
quit dreaming cleverly
I'm starting to get worried about you Brave-Heart. You do realise you just tracked down and posted an article about Cleverly solely in order to accuse Brits of hyping him, even though it was you who posted it in the first place?
Whatever floats your boat dude.