NATHAN CLEVERLY went out celebrating in the shadow of Hollywood as his dream of becoming a boxing superstar took a massive step forward.
The Welshman, 25, retained his WBO world light-heavyweight title against Shawn Hawk and is now in line to fight ring legend Bernard Hopkins next year.
The 47-year-old Hopkins, a multi-world champion, could meet Cleverly in March.
Cleverly is relishing the chance of boosting his worldwide image and said: “That is a fight we are definitely looking at. After all, I have come over here and showcased my talents. Click Here To Read More]
I think Nathan Cleverly is properly over rated and is definitely not world level. BUT i agree with whoever said his activity beats B-HOP. One thing Cleverly does is work his a** off every fight. He throws a lot of punches and does not give the other guy a break.
I don't think that a 48 year old Hopkins can live with the pace he would set. I would love to see B-HOP break him down physically and mentally but that's gotta be wishful thinking???
You don't beat B-Hop with unskilled volume punching. His lateral movement and clinching tend to cut it down drastically. Didn't work out for Pascal or Pavlik. In fact, they made him look like his old self at times.
It's easy enough to try and set the pace against him, it's another to pull it off. That's why he's still around.
And will be around for about the next 50 years.
I think Nathan Cleverly is properly over rated and is definitely not world level. BUT i agree with whoever said his activity beats B-HOP. One thing Cleverly does is work his a** off every fight. He throws a lot of punches and does not give the other guy a break.
I don't think that a 48 year old Hopkins can live with the pace he would set. I would love to see B-HOP break him down physically and mentally but that's gotta be wishful thinking???
Clev's style is all wrong for B.Hop?....I guess you'll be on the frontline after B.Hop breaks the kid's heart giving the oldman a world of props huh!Hating?? Are you fuking kidding??!! Hop is one of my top 10 fighters I have ever seen in this lifetime but age has to catch up and I don't like seeing fighters start making a name off of such an amazing fighter that Hop has been. Cleverly could pitter-pat his way to a decision. Hop cannot expect to perform forever....ignoring that is avoiding reality. The only frontline I would be on is being amazed at Hopkins once again defying age but that cannot go on forever.
Cleverly's style is all wrong for Hopkins due to Cleverly's activity and Hopkins age. But that does not make Cleverly the next Calzaghee. Cal wasn't as easy to hit for one thing. Cleverly leaves himself open for perfect counters and that will cost him when he faces a bigger puncher. A good fighter but he will have problems against the best.
Clev's style is all wrong for B.Hop?....I guess you'll be on the frontline after B.Hop breaks the kid's heart giving the oldman a world of props huh?...or you might be that hating ass dude who'll forget what he said and call Clev a nobody afterwards.....typical NSB ish!!
Cleverly's style is all wrong for Hopkins due to Cleverly's activity and Hopkins age. But that does not make Cleverly the next Calzaghee. Cal wasn't as easy to hit for one thing. Cleverly leaves himself open for perfect counters and that will cost him when he faces a bigger puncher. A good fighter but he will have problems against the best.
Damned if do damned if you dont, Im a bit undecided actually about this one for a few reasons.
What would a fight over b-hop tell us if Cleverly wins?
Would we all then start saying well b-hop is past it, like we said when Calzaghe beat him (just mind you) so I guess its a good fight to go for next.
I'd have to give Hopkins the edge in that fight but if Cleverly was to pull it off it would be a huge name on his resume. But no doubt a lot of people would say Hopkins is shot so it would kind of take the glare off the W.
B-Hop is still the cash cow in the division, he's the marquee name and a win over him can easily make someone a household name. I mean if Cleverly was to fight and beat Shumenov or Cloud he's commercial profile would hardly increase as a win over B-Hop would. Hopkins doesn't have a long time left in the sport hence why everybody wants a piece.
But Bernard is still the guy in control it's he who decides who gets a shot not the other way round and Cleverly is just throwing his name in the mix whether he, Shumenov or Cloud get the fight is entirely up to Hopkins and which fight makes more sense financially.
He's going the same way.
All he needs now is another 15 or so title defenses against bums and a solid fight here and there then he's an all time great.
Like I said we don't know how good Cleverly is until he actually steps up but fact is he's a wold champ and he got the belt through a standard route in the UK, Commonwealth, British belt then WBO route. You can argue that he doesn't deserve to be a world champ but you can make the same case for Shumenov and Cloud to some extent.
I mean Cloud is fighting Murat next someone who Nathan beat two years ago. B-Hop is hands down the second guy in the division after Dawson and a dangerous fight for Nathan so have to give him credit for wanting the fight. He's getting hate now for wanting to fight the best but he could easily do what Joe did and fight nobodies for another 6/7 years before taking on the elite but I have no doubt he'll get hate for that too.
Fact is it's not always about the most deserving fighters getting a shot but what makes more sense financially and I think that's the case here. Just don't see why Cleverly should be geting all this hate simply for wanting to step up.
Damned if do damned if you dont, Im a bit undecided actually about this one for a few reasons.
What would a fight over b-hop tell us if Cleverly wins?
Would we all then start saying well b-hop is past it, like we said when Calzaghe beat him (just mind you) so I guess its a good fight to go for next.
Like I said we don't know how good Cleverly is until he actually steps up but fact is he's a wold champ and he got the belt through a standard route in the UK, Commonwealth, British belt then WBO route. You can argue that he doesn't deserve to be a world champ but you can make the same case for Shumenov and Cloud to some extent.
I mean Cloud is fighting Murat next someone who Nathan beat two years ago. B-Hop is hands down the second guy in the division after Dawson and a dangerous fight for Nathan so have to give him credit for wanting the fight. He's getting hate now for wanting to fight the best but he could easily do what Joe did and fight nobodies for another 6/7 years before taking on the elite but I have no doubt he'll get hate for that too.
Fact is it's not always about the most deserving fighters getting a shot but what makes more sense financially and I think that's the case here. Just don't see why Cleverly should be geting all this hate simply for wanting to step up.
good post and great points
having ambition is a great thing, but the way these artices are being presented, its almost as if cleverly is p4p and is being ducked by all the big names. he needs to fight more fights before he can get in the ring with someone like bhop, you cant deny that, right?
Like I said we don't know how good Cleverly is until he actually steps up but fact is he's a wold champ and he got the belt through a standard route in the UK, Commonwealth, British belt then WBO route. You can argue that he doesn't deserve to be a world champ but you can make the same case for Shumenov and Cloud to some extent.
I mean Cloud is fighting Murat next someone who Nathan beat two years ago. B-Hop is hands down the second guy in the division after Dawson and a dangerous fight for Nathan so have to give him credit for wanting the fight. He's getting hate now for wanting to fight the best but he could easily do what Joe did and fight nobodies for another 6/7 years before taking on the elite but I have no doubt he'll get hate for that too.
Fact is it's not always about the most deserving fighters getting a shot but what makes more sense financially and I think that's the case here. Just don't see why Cleverly should be geting all this hate simply for wanting to step up.
Hopkins is 48 years old. There isn't gonna be much time to get him in the ring.
see I dono if i can agree with that lol. hopkins seems like he is never gonna get old. but yea I agree. by the time cleverly would be ready to put up a fight against old man hopkins, im sure bhop will be retired by then. he cant go on like this much longer, no way...
that is true. Im jus sayin he should fight some other top guys first, then aim high. fight more fights, get popular, get better, and get the big money fights, right?
I think clev callin out bhop and talkin about "takin over Joe's throne" is a bit early, but thats just me...
Hopkins is 48 years old. There isn't gonna be much time to get him in the ring.
that is true. Im jus sayin he should fight some other top guys first, then aim high. fight more fights, get popular, get better, and get the big money fights, right?
I think clev callin out bhop and talkin about "takin over Joe's throne" is a bit early, but thats just me...
I agree! :biggthump
Fuk no. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be aiming to fight him.
Probably isnt aiming to fight any of them, seems quite happy defending against easier opposition...but he should be starting to aim higher and should have been for some time now no-one really knows how good he is yet.
I see Bellew and him on same level, so until Clev beats someone better he's Euro level / fringe world level.
Fuk no. But that doesn't mean he shouldn't be aiming to fight him.
that is true. Im jus sayin he should fight some other top guys first, then aim high. fight more fights, get popular, get better, and get the big money fights, right?
I think clev callin out bhop and talkin about "takin over Joe's throne" is a bit early, but thats just me...