By William Mackay: In a battle of top unbeaten light heavyweight contenders this Saturday night in promoter Frank Warren’s Magnificent Seven card at the LG Arena, in Birmingham, number #2 ranked World Boxing Organization light heavyweight contender Karo Murat (22-0, 13 KO’s) faces number #3 ranked Nathan Cleverly (19-0, 9 KO’s) in a WBO light heavyweight title eliminator match. Cleverly, 23, has the height advantage at 6’3 ½” compared to the 5’10 ½” Murat from Germany. However, Murat is the harder puncher, the stockier fighter and the better inside brawler. Cleverly, a tall fighter for a light heavyweight, likes to fight on the inside as well.

However, Cleverly doesn’t have the same kind of big power that Murat possesses and isn’t as lethal in close as he is. This is a tailor made opponent for Murat, because he won’t have to go looking for Cleverly, because he’s going to be there right in front of him all night long fighting his fight on the inside. Cleverly has fought almost exclusively British opponents during his five year pro career, and will be taking a huge step up against the 27-year-old hard hitting Murat on Saturday night.

It’s hard to say who the best guy that Cleverly has fought up to this point in his career, because he really hasn’t fought anyone yet. I guess you could say Antonio Brancalion is the best guy that Cleverly has fought up until now, but he’s really a fighter that should be in the 2nd tier and not up with the very best in my view. Cleverly doesn’t have big power and his defense is porous to say the least.

He’s going to be getting hit a lot by Murat this Saturday night, and unless Cleverly changes his style of fighting by the time he steps in the ring with Murat, I can see Cleverly getting mowed down by the 6th round at best. He’s too wide open and he doesn’t hit hard enough to beat Murat. Cleverly looks great against the mediocre opposition that he’s been matched up against during his career, but on Saturday night you’re going to see a whole different Cleverly when he starts taking punishment from Murat from the very get go of the fight.

Hopefully, Cleverly has a plan B to fall back on when things get bad for him and he starts taking terrible punishment from Murat. Cleverly needs a plan where he can run and avoid getting knocked out. I think he’s going to have a back up plan, so expect him to get knocked out by the 6th.