By Gav Duthie: There has been a domestic backlash in the UK to the decision to make the rematch between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew a PPV event. This is the first Sky Sports pay event since Froch v Groves 2 last year but the success in this case looks to be well behind the former.
This article rates the three big domestic clashes we have before the end of the month, one on Sky and the other two on subscription only channel Box Nation. My 4 criteria for what made Froch-Groves 2 a successful PPV event are high fan popularity, world level impact, big grudge match and a good spectacle fight rating. I will rate the three upcoming bouts using the same criteria.
November 22
Tony Bellew v Nathan Cleverly 2
Fan Popularity: 7/10
Fans in the UK want to see this fight but don’t really think they should have to pay for it. PPV buys are currently quite low and Matchroom will be looking for a big spike come fight night. UK television will usually only tolerate 1 or 2 PPV fights per year but it needs to have quality. Channel 5 tried an independent PPV channel called Primetime times a few years ago with one particular Amir Khan fight only making 10,000 buys. After many unsuccessful ventures it was scrapped. Fans in America will care very little about these two fighting and to be honest there is little interest in the Cruiserweight division in general.
World level impact: 5/10
This bout will have very little impact on the world scene. The winner doesn’t get a title, they won’t even get a mandatory position. In fact the winner won’t even be the best cruiserweight in Britain as that honour belongs to Ola Afolabi. Both Bellew and Cleverly are relatively knew and unproven in the Cruiserweight division. Bellew’s highest rating with a governing body is #4 with the WBC (champion Gregory Drozd) and Cleverly is unsurprisingly #4 with the WBO (champion Marco Huck) as he held the title in the light heavyweight division. Bellew has the better wins of the two in Cruiserweight but Cleverly has beaten him already. The winner may move up a couple of ratings but they would be unlikely to get a title shot straight after.
Grudge match: 9/10
There is no doubt this is a top heated rivalry. One may question each fighters world level credentials but there is no doubt they genuinely hate each other. The hatred is mostly from Bellew’s side for whatever reason as Cleverly is a more relaxed fighter. I don’t think it will effect the tactics as Bellew can change his style depending on the opponent. Bellew can box on the back or front foot and Cleverly generally fights the same but its a case of whether Bellew is a good enough boxer and has power to hurt Nathan.
Fight rating: 8/10
As a spectacle it will be worth a watch. Their styles do clash well and generally Cleverly’s high workrate make most of his fights watchable. Bellew is naturally bigger by far and many including myself have serious question marks about Cleverly as a cruiserweight. When it comes to punching power, boxing ability they are pretty close it will likely come down to who wants it more on the night.
29/40
Cleverly UD 12
November 29
Derek Chisora v Tyson Fury 2
Fan Popularity: 6/10
Tickets for the first fight hadn’t even sold out when Derek Chisora pulled out with less than a week to go with an injury. Frank Warren was trying to promote this as a stadium fight in the early part of the year but has had to settle for exhibition venues. Fury is a pretty unpopular guy in the UK but people tune in to see him get knocked out. Many have forgotten that these guys have actually fought before and it has so far failed to capture the imagination in comparison to Haye-Chisora in 2012.
World level impact: 8/10
The world might not be interested but the fight is important none the less. The winner of this bout will not ply be the British and European but they will be the mandatory challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s WBO crown. Being that Wlad just ko’d the next best challenger Kubrat Pulev and he has already beaten the next best fighter Alexander Povetkin the Fury/Chisora winner becomes the next best challenger by default. American prospects Deontay Wilder and Bryant Jennings are targeting the WBC title held by Stiverne so it is highly probable the winner will get Wladimir very soon, if he wants to fight the steelhammer of course.
Grudge match 6/10
I really felt the anger with Haye-Chisora and to a certain extent Haye v Fury much more than this. Tyson talks about being upset at Chisora pulling out a week before the fight but Fury did the same a few days later with Ustinov anyway. I feel that both are looking at this as an opportunity for bigger fights and paydays down the line rather than the current opponent.
Fight rating 7/10
It will be better than the first one, how could it not be. Chisora was 20lbs overweight in that fight and Fury is much improved. I don’t think Del Boy is world class but we are seeing the best version of himself he can be with decent victories in the past year particularly over Malik Scott and Kevin Johnson. Chisora will make Fury work for the win this time and with such a long time out of the game i’m not sure that Tyson Fury will be in the best possible shape.
27/40
Chisora UD 12
November 29
Billy Joe Saunders v Chris Eubank Jnr
Fan popularity 8/10
The capture of Eubank’s long awaited signature has added great anticipation to a luke warm main event. Eubank Snr is young enough that fans in their 20s would know him and people are looking forward to see if his son can follow in his footsteps. Saunders has overcame many domestic
World level impact: 7/10
Again this has been granted final eliminator status with the WBO so the fight can’t be ignored. The WBO is currently vacant after Peter Quillin stepped down but the UK’s own Andy Lee and Matt Korobov fight for the title in December. Credit goes to Saunders for taking this fight because he was ahead of Lee in the queue to fight Korobov in the first place. The Eubank name is huge in British boxing so it is a big scalp with a decent reward even if the fight is not huge globally.
Grudge match: 8/10
Quite a few of the UK middleweights are unimpressed with Eubank coming in trying to steal the limelight without beating anyone and Saunders has certainly taken exception to his boasts. Eubank seems equally distasteful of his opponent dubbing him ‘Average Joe Saunders’. Eubank Snr struggles to keep quiet adding that Saunders could really get hurt here.
Fight rating: 8/10
Personally I think this is the most interesting of the three. There is a good clash of pressure versus stylist and Eubank hasn’t had any challenges yet. Saunders only real significant test beyond domestic level was against failed title challenger Jarrod Fletcher which he passed via second round stoppage. Saunders should force Eubank to fight at a high tempo and take him out of his comfort zone. The question is whether he can go twelve rounds and has the power to hurt Saunders.
31/40
Saunders SD 12
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