Cleverly ready for Bellew

[Wheelchair]

It’s been four months since the pair first squared off at the infamous press conference at London’s O2 Arena and WBO World Light-Heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly now can’t wait to finally get in the ring with Tony Bellew. There has been plenty of tension between the two unbeaten boxers heading into the October 15th blockbuster at the Liverpool Echo Arena, but Cleverly is looking forward to finally stepping between the ropes.

 

“I’m looking forward to the fight right now,” he said. “A lot has been said, and there has been a lot of hype around the fight, but I’m glad all the press conferences are done now and I can concentrate on training.

 

“We can finally get on with business, this is where the real talking begins – with out fists,

 

“I’m raring to go, I’ve been training well, there’s not that long to go until the fight and we can finally see who’s number one once and for all.”

 

During the five-month build up to the showdown there has been a lot of bad blood between the duo, however Cleverly has some respect for his rival.

 

“It’s a challenge and I’m not taking it lightly,” Cleverly continued. “I have respect for my opponent, at the end of the day once you’re in that ring you’ve got to have respect for your opponent,

 

“He’ll be in there trying to win the fight as well and anything can happen. In training, if you haven’t got any respect for your opponent it is difficult to get motivated and you’ll end up taking that attitude into the fight,

 

“It’s important you respect all your opponents, regardless of their records, weather they are a big name or not, you’ve got to appear like a champion and I’m making sure I do that.”

 

With that being said Cleverly hasn’t seen much from his opponent that is giving him sleepless nights.

 

“Tony’s recent performances have been okay,” the 24-year-old commented. “He had an up and down fight with Ovill McKenzie and I think that showed his level really.

 

“Obviously he won quite comfortably in the rematch, he boxed okay, nothing special but it was bad either, it was a solid performance.

 

“He’s going to be a decent test for me but I can’t see it being anything greater than that.”

 

Cleverly is currently unbeaten in 22 fights and will be looking to make that 23. Should he win, comparisons will start to be drawn with unbeaten Welsh boxer Joe Calzaghe.

 

“It nice to be mentioned in the same way as Joe actually and in that type of company, and to be expected to emulated those kind of achievements is a bit of a boost for me,

 

“It shows people have expectations of me and they really expect me to go on and achieve big things. That in turn can give you great confidence and I do take confidence from that,

 

“In a way you really want to go out there and prove your supporters and fans right and not to let them down.”

 

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/cleverly-ready-for-bellew-95496

[londoner]

Will be a good fight IMO. I'm not sure Bellew deserves the title shot just yet but he won't be the first guy to get an easy title shot and won't be the last. Bellew has basically talked his way into a title shot. The fight itself could be quite good. I think Cleverly wins by mid to late round stoppage.

[davemurphy]

I like the fight, I agree that Bellew isn't on Cleverly's level, but like Ryan mentions, there's a hell of lot worse matchups we've had to deal with, and it's up to Nathan to take care of business and show us the difference between the two. Better fighters than Nathan Cleverly have fallen to a lot worse fighters than Tony Bellew, that's why they fight the fights. Bellew's talked the talk, now lets see if he can walk the walk.

[iamasadlittleboy]

With the LHW division the way it is, I can't excuse this match up TBH. If Cleverly wants to wear his title with any dignity he should be looking at top 10-15 type of guys. Guys like Hopkins, Cloud, Dawson, Pascal, Shumenov, Campillo, Syllakh, Sukhotsky, Chilemba, Diaconu, Gutknecht, Garcia, Erdei, Mack heck I wouldn't have minded him facing Fonfara. But Bellew has been put on his arse 3 times in his last 3 fights, he's another Scouser who will complain about weight when he loses...then stay at that weight (like a fat Scouse gob ***** we all know).

 

Heck I'm sure Thomas Oosthuizen wouldn't mind putting on a few pounds to fill up and take a fight, I'd fancy him to beat Bellew where ever they fought.

[Wheelchair]

It's worth it to see 'Bell End' Bellew totally destroyed.

[dixonsafc]

It's worth it to see 'Bell End' Bellew totally destroyed.

 

This!

 

I'm hoping Clev shuts his horrible scouse gob.

[Wheelchair]

It's worth it to see 'Bell End' Bellew totally destroyed.

 

This!

 

I'm hoping Clev shuts his horrible scouse gob.

 

Oh he will. Bellew is far too open and his fragile chin isn't going to keep him in the fight for long.

[gavpowell]

I agree that Bellew isn't on Cleverly's level, but like Ryan mentions, there's a hell of lot worse matchups we've had to deal with

 

When? When was the last time a guy who almost lost to a domestic-level journeyman got a title shot?

 

It's an awful fight and inexcusable, nor do I buy "It'll be exciting" because it won't unless Cleverly is a complacent idiot - it'll be like Burns v Cook all over again.

[Meathead]

Agree 100% with the thoughts that its a joke fight.

 

Completely inexcusable, as Gav says.

 

Too many decent fights out there for Clev and instead a gobshite, who hasnt actually proved hes a domestic level fighter yet, gets a shot.

 

I read the other day that Bellew said he was the best opponent Clev had ever faced!

 

Its a massive, massive mistake by Bellew. If Clev blows him away, he will have taken short money for a world title shot that likely will never come again.