Cleverly could face the best, just not yet

By Boxing News - 02/24/2012 - Comments

Image: Cleverly could face the best, just not yetBy Jonathan Watkins: Nathan Cleverly faces the relatively unknown Tommy Karpency this Saturday in a bout which should pose few problems for the World Champion. The main focus on this fight however, will be Cleverly’s performance following a string of mediocre fights.

Particularly, recent encounters with Nadjib Mohammedi and fellow Brit Tony Bellow have seen him fail to live up to the expectations of a champion. This weekend’s homecoming bout will be a chance for the Welshman to get back on track and tempt some of the division’s bigger names.

Unfortunately, despite his aspirations of toppling a giant now is not the time to call them out. While he has faced criticism for matching up against lower ranked fighters, the truth is that the likes of Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson and Jean Pascal are still a class apart from Cleverly.

The light-heavyweight division is packed with experience and talent, and even though he holds the WBO belt, the Welshman needs to bide his time and challenge some other top contenders before calling out these superior opponents.

Karpency is unlikely to threaten Cleverly’s title, but will provide a chance for him to win impressively and regain some confidence. Depending on the outcome, a bout with one of his fellow title holders Beibut Shumenov or Tavoris Cloud could be a smarter move for his next opponent.

Rumours of calling out the likes of Carl Froch and Hopkins for a future bout seem premature for a fighter yet to strongly assert himself in the division. But let’s not forget the Welsh fighter is just 25 years old and there is room for improvement for this already skilled boxer.

With 23 wins and no loses to his record, each defence will improve the young fighter’s ability and gain experience against better boxers. Following some more convincing defences against stronger opponents, he could potentially be able to challenge world’s best in years to come.

It is currently hard to imagine him posing a threat to the likes of power punching light heavyweights, especially Hopkins and Dawkins, but these boxers have had substantially more bouts that Cleverly who has time to get to their level.

This Saturday’s bout will have a large impact on who his next opponent will be, but rushing into dangerous territory might not benefit the Welshman just yet, although Shumenov or Tavoris could provide an exciting matchup.



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