By Scott Gilfoid: Promoter Eddie Hearn says he plans on matching Tony Bellew (22-2-1, 14 KO’s) and Nathan Cleverly (28-1, 14 KO’s) against each other later this year in either October or November. Hearn wants to strike while the iron is still hot after Bellew and Cleverly both scored stoppage victories last Saturday night over meager opposition. Hearn says he’d like to have the rematch take place in Manchester or London.
It’s pretty important that Hearn put together a rematch between Bellew and Cleverly as soon as possible because neither of them appear to be fighting at a high enough level in the cruiserweight division to count on them being able to avoid losses for too much longer unless Hearn wants to devote 2-3 years in matching them exclusively against fodder opposition instead of the best fighters in the division.
Cleverly stopped a pudgy looking Alejandro Emilio Valori (15-5, 11 KOs) in the 4th round last Saturday, whereas Bellew destroyed 36-year-old Julio Cesar Dos Santos (26-3, 23 KOs) by a 5th round knockout. Both Cleverly and Bellew proved to be very hittable in their fights.
“We’re looking at October or November, here, Manchester or London, it doesn’t matter. It’s going to be a great fight,” Hearn said.
Bellew and Cleverly went back and forth after the fight, arguing who’s going to beat who when they face each other. Bellew did his best job of making excuses for his previous loss to Cleverly in 2011 by saying that he had been drained in the process of making weight for their light heavyweight bout.
Bellew said “I ain’t a 16-fight novice who has only fought at British title level. I am now an established pro who has fought better pros than you in lesser fights. Let’s get this straight, I’ve achieved the same (as you). You’re a plastic world champion. You were never a true world champion. We fought for a belt that shouldn’t have even been a world title. It was no better than a domestic title. Forget that belt, forget everything. I just want to hurt you.”
At this point you’ve got to say that Bellew looks to be the better cruiserweight between them due to his power, but it’s hard to know who’ll win in a rematch because Bellew looks flabby in the weight class. If Cleverly is able to walk Bellew down and force him to fight on the inside for 12 rounds, I wouldn’t be surprised if Bellew runs out of gas in the last 4-5 rounds like he did the previous time they faced each other. The stamina just wasn’t there for Bellew in that fight.
Cleverly said “Don’t worry about this talking. I’ve already come to his home town and beat this guy and guess what? I’m going to do it again and this time it will be in Cardiff. Keep on talking mate because I’ve already beaten you. I’m going to spank you again. I’ve already spanked you and I’m going to do it again.”
It’s not really a thrilling fight if you’re interested in watching the best. But if you don’t mind a couple of sloppy domestic level fighters that have already been exposed at the world level, then Cleverly-Bellew II should be an entertaining fight if you don’t think too much. If you put the fight into perspective and realize you’re not seeing the cream of the cruiserweight division in the ring there, you won’t mind watching the two guys brawl in October or November.
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