How Far Can Cleverly Go?

[taansend]

Fights an Aussie boy with a great chin & no pop next month. Smart move by his management.

I have to say I was disappointed with Cleverly in the Kovalev fight. I didn't necessarily think he would win - I was thinking that if Cleverly was still fresh at halfway he'd win - but he fought like an idiot. He was fighting a wrecking machine who could knock out heavyweights & he's poncing around in front of him.

I know it's easy for me as I wasn't in the ring but he didn't even try to stay out of the way.

He impressed me as a youth but after he was awarded the title he seemed to regress in intelligence.

The Cruiserweight division isn't exactly deep at the moment but I still can't see Nathan making too much of an impact.

Best of luck to the lad though.

[CraigM]

I think if they actually push him instead of letting him sit back and take easy fights leading on to one really hard fight and going with gradually harder fighting schedule he could do really well.

[Sugarj]

The problem with Nathan is that he doesn't take his much publicised intelligence into the ring with him. Why he hasn't developed a more elusive style is beyond me! You can be elusive and exciting, defensive but still entertaining.

He needs to seriously work on his head movement, his clinching when hurt as well as an ability to back pedal.

Hopefully the loss will be a good wake up call. But the same thing will happen again in the future if he doesn't develop a world class defence. His fitness, handspeed and heart are world class......he just needs to work on his all round game.

[dan_cov]

Not far at all if he plans on staying at cruiserweight. He hasn't the pop too command respect and they will walk through him. Most of the cruisers are heavyweights who are too small to compete against the 'super heavies'

He needs to get rid of his dad as a trainer as he is rubbish and stay at LHW. He would be fine if he didn't chase a Kovalev rematch or go gunning for Stevenson.

Maybe fight a few decent fighters, build back up and cash out against B-Hop or something as hes already contemplated retiring and he doesn't strike me as a guy who will stick around too long.

[taansend]

Dan

Personally I think he does better at Cruiser than Lightheavy - for the time being.

Let Kovalev & Adonis sort themselves out & he might have a chance.

[FightFit]

Im very suprised hes gone to cruiserweight anyone know why.

[stefjonno1]

I think Cruiserweight is a big mistake.

[weltercelt]

Im very suprised hes gone to cruiserweight anyone know why.

The story is that he has had trouble making weight and that he will be a natural cruiserweight, him and his da think they are the new calzaghe son/da combo and they are very wrong

Cleverly should hook up with a coach stateside

[Humean]

I don't know if he'll be a champ but the division isn't the strongest really and if he has started to struggle with the weight then it is the correct move to move up in weight. However he really needs a change of trainer to me, there has been no progression in his ability for years. He beats mediocre world contenders by outworking them with his speed and stamina and not much else. I have heard him admit that he hasn't ever really worked much on his defence, something he definitely needs to work on. He has the athleticism to have a far better and more refined style than he has.

[CheckHookArtist]

At Cruiserweight the best he can hope for is to win the British, European and Commonwealth titles and dominate the Cruiserweight scene at domestic level, as far as beating the likes of Lebedev, Huck, Hernandez and Włodarczyk goes, I can't see it.

Cleverly wasn't a hard puncher at light heavyweight never mind cruiserweight, he fought completely the wrong fight against Kovalev, he should have danced round him, made him miss, counter punch, slip, slide, bob and weave, but he instead choose to stand toe to toe with a knockout specialist and he paid the price.