Comments Thread For: Cleverly vs Bellew is Close To Done For October 15

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According to the Liverpool Echo, Tony Bellew is close to finalizing a deal to face WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly. Bellew, the British and Commonwealth light heavyweight champion, has verbally agreed to face Cleverly on October 15 at the Echo Arena. A few minor points need to be ironed out. The fight is expected to be officially finalized by the end of the week. Bellew's planned British title defense against Paul David, on September 17 at The Olympia, has been pulled from show.

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[SAJ10]

Cleverly, for me, could be one of the biggest waste of talents.

It's certainly the way he's heading. He neglects his ability and skill just to go to war.

I'm sorry, that's just not for me.

I credit guys like Froch who don't have great ability but try their damn hardest to improve themselves as boxers and not just trade-off artists.

Cleverly is the opposite, and I think it's shocking that he turns his nose up at his skills and talent, to just fight in a way that anybody with some balls and heart, but no ability could do.

Cleverly is going to remembered more as a Robbie Savage than a Bale and more as a Adam Jones than a Gareth Edwards, if he carries on, and that's very disappointing considering his capabilities.

So far he's displayed a complete lack of maturity in the boxing ring, especially now he's at World level.

He also hasn't displayed any ring IQ, in fact he's a very intellegent lad outsdie the ring but inside has to be one the least intellegent.

He certainly comes a the lower end of the class - with guys like Hopkins, Ward, even Khan and Georgie Groves (who's at domestic level) showing high ring IQ's in their last fights and putting Cleverly firmly with the dunches hat on in boxing terms.

Taking their opponents strengths away, through utilizing movement and being disiplined and sticking to a game plan.

I was very excited about Cleverly prior to World level but he's regressed. You could drive a bus through his defence.

Bellew says he's predictable, a one-trick pony that can only fight coming forward in a trade-off.

As much as it pains me to say it - because Cleverly is levels and levels above Bellew in ability, so far, he's right.

Tony to his credit, at least showed a different side to his game in his last fight and even though Nathan has far more potential, Bellew showed he's capable of boxing to a game plan that doesn't involve a war and boxed smartly and defensively on the back foot.

Cleverly should win this - but his predicable nature of being 'exciting' which is something a lot fans are starting believe is an excuse he uses to hide behind the limitations of his defence and technical deficiencies means Bellew has a shot.

I don't think so (predicable nature of being 'exciting' which is something a lot fans are starting believe is an excuse he uses to hide behind the limitations of his defence and technical deficiencies) - I think he elects to fight that way, which like I said, considering his ability is much worse.

Cleverly showed his lack of maturity outside the ring too, when he let Bellew talk him into a trade off in the Press Conference. Can you imagine that ever happening with Calzaghe, Hopkins or Ward?

Calzaghe showed such versitility as a fighter - against Kessler he boxed and moved beautifully once he realised how strong Kessler was and that he couldn't stand in front of him.

Can you see Cleverly doing that? At this stage I don't know. I know he has the abilty to, but he seems to be way too macho to do that.

Which is huge downfall in boxing.

Whilst Cleverly can win the fight by standing in front of Bellew - it is the only way he can lose it too. And this is what I mean about maturity and not having intelligence in the ring - because Cleverly will fight to his opponents strengths instead of taking them away.

Basically showing that he can fight the way any journey man can that possesses heart and balls, but not in the way the great fighters do, really taking the opponets to school and boxing the arse of them.

Yet Cleverly thinks to go to war is some sort of achievement? To do what any limited fighter can do. Errr, no.

If he finally realises that he just looks limited in ability, maturity and intelligence then his career will really move forward and go from strength to strength.

If he doesn't, then it's a matter of time before for him and shame as he had the potential to be a real, real talent!

A true waste.