Cleverly- Bellew off, Kuziemski to step in and fight Cleverly

By Boxing News - 05/19/2011 - Comments

Image: Cleverly- Bellew off, Kuziemski to step in and fight CleverlyBy Dallan o’ Donnell: In an article published on Eurosport.com it is claimed that the Stand in opponent for Nathan Cleverly’s World title defence, Tony Bellew has been forced to pull out as he could not make the weight. He is the second fighter to pull out after Jurgen Brahmer the former WBO light heavyweight champion pulled out due to an eye injury.

But instead of promoter Frank Warren saving Cleverly for another day, the situation has turned into a joke by him booking another fighter to face Cleverly. Aleksy Kuziemski, a polish fighter previously beaten by Brahmer has been drafted in at short notice. The WBO should also refuse to sanction this bout as they did with the Bellew bout as it will be an absolute farce of a fight.

Bellew had injected great interest in a fight with Cleverly at such short notice in a fiery press conference earlier today when both fighters almost went head to head. Hopefully after Cleverly beats his new opponent this fight can be made for the future as it is one which will generate huge revenue. I do feel slightly sorry for Cleverly who has now missed out on a defining night where he could have claimed the title in style, instead he will be defending a title he never won on a night shrouded in controversy.

Also could Warren have tried harder to get the Bellew fight on or did he decide to cut his losses after seeing a fired up Bellew at the press conference perhaps knowing that one punch could have ended Cleverly’s reign. Warren could have asked the WBO to allow the use of a catch weight, which Manny Pacquaio famously used in the past to claim world titles. I still think Cleverly would have beaten Bellew but yet again in Boxing; money talks.



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