By Tom Berridge: Having watched both Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew for a very long time, I believe this fight is guaranteed entertainment when it finally happens.
The Bellew-Cleverly 2 fight will take place later this year and it will take place in Liverpool England, Bellew’s home town, just like there first altercation in 2011 that ended in a close decision in Cleverly’s favor and deservedly so, in my opinion.
First of all, credit goes out to Bellew and Cleverly for taking this fight. Both guys could pretty much continue to fight cannon fodder in this division and pretty easily fight for a world title in approximately 2 – 3 more fights and stand a very good chance of winning, considering the division’s competition.
Cleverly and Bellew have recently moved up to cruiserweight from the light heavyweight division, which was clearly a very good decision considering the competition in that division. There are three men – Sergey Kovalev, Adonis Stevenson and Bernard Hopkins – at light heavyweight that are head and shoulders above the rest. Since Bellew and Cleverly moved up in weight to cruiserweight, they’ve both fought twice and won via KO, comfortably.
Bellew looks like he was born for the cruiserweight weight class and Cleverly looks rather athletic and long/ Bellew was fighting at heavyweight and Cleverly at welterweight in the amateur days which is a massive contrast in terms of skill and ability to take a punch. In the Cleverly vs. Kovelev fight last year, Cleverly simply could not take Kovalev’s power. While Stevenson did similar to Bellew, it was not as bad in my opinion. I believe Bellew to have the much greater power at this weight.
While Cleverly is slicker than Bellew, he is almost certain to get caught in this fight with something big at some point. Therefor in my opinion I only see one victor in this fight and that’s Bellew via KO, mid to late rounds.
It’s a shame really that the governing bodies will not see this as a final eliminator or simply make it one. Oh well, never mind. It’s purely down to the entertainment factor here rather than a title. Just have a think, how many world champions are there, that are not in the top 2 within their division? I can name probably 25 +. It just confirms the 2 words – PAPER CHAMPION is ripe in the sport.
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