By Scott Gilfoid: Unbeaten Russian Sergey Kovalev (22-0-1, 20 KO’s) made easy work of WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-1, 12 KO’s) in four brutal rounds on Saturday night to capture Cleverly’s WBO 175 lb. strap at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. Kovalev dropped Cleverly three times in the fight; twice in the 3rd round and once in the 4th. The fight should have been stopped in the 3rd round because Cleverly was badly hurt and going up and down on the canvas like a yo-yo.
Cleverly vs. Kovalev
Cleverly used the wrong fight strategy against Kovalev
By Scott Gilfoid: As I predicted earlier, the huge punching Sergey Kovalev (22-0-1, 20 KO’s) completely obliterated WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-1, 12 KO’s) in only 4 rounds in a three-knockdown performance tonight Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
Nathan Cleverly, one of boxing’s next big star’s
By Nick Hagan: Nathan Cleverly 26-0 has the opportunity tonight to showcase his superb boxing skills, against a world class opponent in Sergey Kovalev 21-0-1
Many people including myself have been very impressed with Cleverly’s career to date. A career, in which he has been well guided, trained and managed impressively.
Cleverly became the WBO Light Heavyweight champion in 2010 at the tender age of 23. Now three years on, he Is calling out the big names in the division, i.e. Hopkins, Dawson and Cloud who have all appeared reluctant to sign up to a fight, against a boxer who is just Improving In every defense he makes of his title.
Prediction: Kovalev by brutal 4th round KO over Cleverly
By Scott Gilfoid: I believe there will be blood tonight, and it’s not going to be coming from unbeaten #2 WBO, Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) in his fight against WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s) at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Cleverly has gotten by up until now by walking down his less than impressive opposition with his ability to take their best punches, and firing back with his own. Cleverly has won his fights by throwing more shots than his opponents, and in the case where he’s gotten stoppages, it’s been against weak opposition. Tonight, Cleverly’s not going to be facing a weak opponent, and I think he’s going to get knocked out cold when he steps inside the ring to face Kovalev.
Calzaghe: Cleverly could be catapulted to the top if he beats Kovalev
By Scott Gilfoid: Former super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe thinks all it’ll take for fellow Welsh fighter WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s) to get to the top is for him to beat Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) this Saturday night in their fight on HBO at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
For some reason, Calzaghe thinks a victory over Kovalev will be big enough to get Cleverly to the top of the food chain at 175.
Cleverly and Kovalev make weight
(Photo Courtesy: Richard Maynard/Frank Warren Promotions) By Scott Gilfoid: WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s) and #2 WBO, Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) made weight today for their big fight tomorrow night at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. Kovalev, 30, came in comfortably 2 pounds under the limit at 173 lbs., and he looked in superb shape.
However, Cleverly barely made the limit in coming in right at 174 lbs., and you have to wonder if he’s been struggling to take weight off. I mean, that’s cutting it close when you come right in just 1 pound under the limit.
Cleverly: I believe I can stop Kovalev
By Scott Gilfoid: WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s) isn’t known for being a puncher. In fact, he’s more known for being a guy that throws a lot of punches per round, and takes a lot of head shots in the process. His defense has always been his offense in addition to his ability to take awful punishment to the head.
This is why it’s kind of interesting to hear Cleverly predicting a knockout win for himself over his opponent Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) for this Saturday at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, UK.
Bellew: Cleverly’s team selected Kovalev because they see him as a hype job
By Scott Gilfoid: Light heavyweight contender Tony Bellew believes the sole reason that WBO light heavyweight Nathan Cleverly’s team selected the hard hitting Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) to fight in an optional defense is because they see him as a flawed fighter that Cleverly can get by. Bellew doesn’t think Cleverly would be matched up with Kovalev if he were a Gennady Golovkin type of fighter.
Bellew said on his twitter “This fight wouldn’t be happening if he [Kovalev] was anything like Golovkin, believe me. They see he’d just a puncher and they know they’ll outwork him. Just remember this is a voluntary, not a mandatory. There is a reason they chose this guy. They see him as a hype job, simple. Golovkin = P4p. Kovalev = Strong/limited, There is NO comparison…I’m merely stating facts.”
Cleverly sees victory over Kovalev leading to super fights
By Scott Gilfoid: In the mind of WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s) a win over unbeaten Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) this Saturday night will lead to super fights against Bernard Hopkins and Adonis Stevenson.
Cleverly sees the Kovalev fight as one that’ll bring him a lot of attention in the U.S, because HBO will be televising the fight on Saturday night from the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, South Wales. Cleverly believes, in his own mind, that Bernard Hopkins set up this test for him to see if he can pass it to earn a shot at him.
Kovalev’s trainer sees Cleverly lasting only 3 rounds
By Scott Gilfoid: Next Saturday night WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s) will be facing the best opponent of his career by far in Sergey Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom.
Kovalev’s trainer John David Jackson sees this as an easy fight for Kovalev, #3 WBO, #7 WBA, with him coming out and blasting the easy to hit Cleverly out within the first three rounds.