Nathan Cleverly Vs Sergey Kovalev - Fight Preview

By Jack Sumner @Jack_Sumner_

Nathan Cleverly returns home to defend his light heavyweight title on Welsh soil this Saturday, when he puts his WBO strap on the line for the sixth time at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena. Despite the 26-year-old's two-year reign and the fact that he'll be fighting in front of his adoring South Wales public however, the champion from the Cefn Fforest will enter Saturday's world title clash as the betting underdog.

'Expert From The Armchair' - Promoting The Brand

By David Johnson @mrdaj.

The ever-growing stable at Matchroom Sport.

Are we witnessing a change in the way we choose who we follow on the boxing scene?

In years gone by we've tended to follow the boxer who is local to us, has a cultural fit to our views on life or in many cases the kind of personalities the boxers have (I don't think I need to touch on our love for a warrior or explosive fighter)...

For example:

The Tony Bellew's / Paul Smith's / David Price's have all spoken about their pride of representing the city of Liverpool and the fans love it, but their appeal reaches so much further than that great city, the nation loves them and their fellow liverpudlian fighters - Many people follow their local hero, and long may it continue.

Ricky Burns Signs For Matchroom! Full Press Conference

@IFILMLONDON

Interview with Mitchell Smith!

We chat to highly-rated British prospect...

Mitchell Smith!

AKA 'The Baby Faced Assassin'

(5-0, 2 KO's)

You're 5 fights into your professional career... How have you found the pro game so far? Is it what you expected?

I prefer the pro game to the amateur game. My style is a little more designed for the pro's, that's why I didn't get picked for the GB squad as an amateur. So yeah it was what I expected it to be. I like to hurt people when I fight and in the amateur game that's not so much, but in the pro game its a little bit more exciting and the crowd are starting to like me. I was expecting everything to go well and for it to be like this.

How have you seen your fan base grow over the past 8 or 9 months? Are you starting to get noticed more and more?

Yeah, I've started up a Twitter account and I'm surprised how many people are following me which is nice. And yeah I'm quite liked around my area, I've been boxing since I was 6 and everyone knows I've been boxing since I was young so everyone's been sort of following me around my way. I do like 450 tickets every time I fight, and I'm not even that high up in the pro ranks at the moment. Hopefully my fan base keeps growing and we can take a big crowd to Vegas one day.

Some people have called you the next Ricky Hatton... Is that because of the way you fight or how much support you are getting at such an early stage in your career?

To be likened to Ricky Hatton is amazing. He's done what so many fighters haven't. To be called the next Hatton is a big confidence booster for me. Don't get me wrong I'm an exciting fighter, but to be up where Ricky's standards are, there's a lot more learning to do, and you know, if I can get as good as what Ricky was I'll be more than happy. 

Burns, Cleverly, Groves, Chisora & 'The Queen' at Rule Brittania Press Conference

@iFILMLONDON

Exclusive footage from Frank Warren's 'Rule Brittania' press conference. Four of Britain's biggest stars pose for the camera with a Her Majesty lookalike and Mr. Warren's dog. 

Warren Vs Hearn continues...

The forever ongoing and growing rivalry between Britain's 'Top 2' boxing promoters continued this week when Eddie Hearn reacted to some things that Frank Warren said in a previous interview. And now Warren has fired back to what Hearn said in an interview this week. This is what Warren said in his article for boxingscene.com:

Eddie,

It’s the ‘Dinosaur’ Old School Promoter here. 

Just seen your recent interview with IFilm London.  Once again you felt compelled to reference me, several of my fighters and BoxNation.  You stalking me? 

What’s with this ‘New Age Promoting’? I’m not quite sure what is meant by this term, but I do know what Promoting is, delivering great fights for the fans and putting bums on seats.   

Recently FWP have given the fans proper quality showdowns including Groves v DeGale, Mitchell v Murray, Cleverly v Bellew, Burns v Katsidis, Helenius v Chisora,  Klitschko v Chisora, Burns v Mitchell and of course, Haye v Chisora – all virtual sell outs.  How does that compare with your shows over the same period? 

I think even in your hearts of hearts, however ‘New Age’ you may be and even with your BIG Sky budget, you would have to admit that other than Froch v Bute, you have not delivered anywhere near as many big live audiences or fights of that calibre over the same period and I’ve not included the small hall classics such as Walsh v Appleby amongst others. 

I’d like to know what was so awful with my “Horrendous offer” for Gavin Rees to face Ricky Burns for his WBO World Title the ExCel in December? 

The offer we made to Gavin for the fight was £50,000 with three options, which had been improved with a final offer of £60,000.  You said Gavin will be earning more for his next European title defence – I’m sure he will be pleased to hear that he will be getting more than £60,000 for his next European title fight.   

He was promised a shot by you at the WBA title, but despite being number 2 in their rankings it didn’t happen and he is now missing out on a huge opportunity to fight Ricky Burns.  My offer is clearly anything but a ‘Horrendous offer’, something your Director of Boxing, an honest man, with years of experience, said was a “Great offer”.   

Gavin previously won the WBA World Title with me and you have turned down a chance for him to become a 2-Weight World Champion and again, you have deprived the fans of a good old domestic battle.  

Let’s also touch on the ‘options and allsorts’ section of your statement. Everybody knows in boxing that other than a mandatory defence, it is normal that options are given to the promoter of the Champion, just like the options you signed when Froch, the mandatory challenger, fought Bute.  I would like to ask you this question – have you taken any options on Yusef Mack for his IBF World Title challenge against Carl Froch next month?  And indeed, have you taken options out on any previous fighters?  I think we both know the answer to that. 

The fact remains that you preach that it’s the fighters’ interests at heart that you have,  and that may be, but I suspect this pattern of rejecting big purse offers and big opportunities has more to do with you worrying that you will have no fighters left to run with on Sky.  Perhaps the ‘exclusive’ dates you have secured are more of a hindrance to fill than you expected? 

An offer for Brook to face Timothy Bradley, again for a career best purse.  Why so many eliminators Eddie? He was WBO number one two years ago? Is ‘New Age’ promoting about turning down World Title fights for your boxers in favour of servicing a TV deal?  

As for Carl Froch, my offer was genuine and as I have said on record many times, I fancy Nathan to beat him.  The fact remains that it was another huge fight and a big payday for Carl that you rejected and not as you are suggesting now for a fight to take place before the Bute fight but after.  £1million – I know he hasn’t made that money in any fight with you and again what of the fans?  I am sure they would much rather see Cleverly v Froch rather than Froch v Mack and Nathan fighting Uzelkov. 

You’ve now rejected three big World Title fights for three of your fighters (Brook, Froch and now Rees). This rejection pattern you’re developing, in my opinion, is not good for the sport. TV deals are important but not as important as delivering for your fighters and for the fans that want to see the big events. You seem to talk so often about doing things for the fans but from where I am sitting, you stopped them from seeing three big fights. Is that the New-Age agenda?  

New Age?  Us old guys, especially the Hall of Fame Promoters like to keep it simple – make the big fights and put bums on seats. 

Regards, 

‘Dinosaur’

Eddie Hearn bites back at Frank Warren!

Eddie Hearn with star fighter Carl Froch.

The forever ongoing rivalry between British boxing promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn continued this week when Hearn reacted to some of the things Warren had said in a previous interview.

A few weeks ago Warren made an offer to Hearn for IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch to move up in weight and face WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly. According to reports the fight was priced at £2,000,000 but Hearn refused and claimed that Froch had no intention of moving up in weight and was tied down to a rematch with Lucian Bute early next year.

"He knew that because of our obligation to Lucian Bute and because of the weight, the fight would never happen," said Hearn in an interview with iFilm London. "He's living on a different planet. He's a dinosaur. I've seen him in interviews recently saying 'why would I sit down and talk with Eddie Hearn. I've been in this business for years and years and years.' He may know more about boxing than me, but I guarantee I know more about new-age promoting than him... And how to promote a show, how to get the fans excited, how to build the atmosphere and give the fans of today, the modern age, what they want."

I'm getting tired if this to be honest with you. This is one of the main reasons that we don't get to see as many top-class fights as we would really like, rivalries between promoters. Fights between boxers from different promotions are becoming harder and harder to make because of petty disputes like this. I agree with Hearn on this one, there isn't really much chance of a fight between Froch and Cleverly but I think both are to blame for the arguing. I know it's not just these two but these are the top two promoters in Britain and should set an example to upcoming promoters, the fans and also their own fighters.

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97.

'Super Frank' does it again!

'Super' Frank Buglioni had yet another early night on Friday (September 14th) as he made light work of Joe Rea, finishing him in just two rounds.

It was a slight step up for Buglioni who has still now only had six fights but he did exactly the same to the Irishman that he did to the rest of the guys he has been fighting so far. Buglioni showed composure and just waited for the knockout to come as he was very confident that it would. He had Rea down in the first and then just dominated him in the second before the ref was forced to stop the fight.

There are still people moaning about the level of opposition that Buglioni has faced, like there is with most up and coming fighters, but what most people seem to forget is that he has only had six fights, there is no need to rush this guy. He seems to be improving every time we see him and has a bright and exciting future ahead of him. He's the type of guy he will be in exciting fights over and over again because he has a style that the fans want to see.

Dean Powell sides with Frank Warren!

Dean Powell (right) with fellow trainer Enzo Calzaghe.

The matchmaker Frank Warren Promotions, Dean Powell has dismissed the rumours that he will be involved with the highly anticipated, controversial heavyweight clash between David Haye and Dereck Chisora at Upton Park on July 14th. He is 100% sure that he will be working with Chisora and other fighters on the card come fight night.

"It is not true that I will not be working, the information is incorrect and I will be working at West Ham in my usual capacity," explained Powell. "I will be working in the corner alongside Don Charles [Chisora's trainer] and also as a cutsman and wrapping hands - I want to make that clear. My position is this - I will be standing alongside Frank Warren, Don Charles, Dereck Chisora and all the rest of Frank's fighters and staff. It is nonsense to say otherwise. I want this to be corrected. I'd like to know where people get this 'information' from because it simply isn't true."

The rumours were first heard on various boxing forums around the country. The forums in question stated that Powell had told a few of his fighters that he will not be working with them on the night of the fight. It is not quite clear as to who is responsible for the rumours.

Rumours of unlicensed fight between Chisora and Haye!

Chisora and Haye may be going face-to-face again.

There have been wild rumours flying around that banned British heavyweight Dereck Chisora will take on retired former world champion David Haye. Both fighters do not have a license but this doesn't seem to be stopping the fight from happening as the rumours also say that it will be an unlicensed fight.

A press conference will be held by promoter Frank Warren at Upton Park on Tuesday and there will be a 'big' announcement made. Some other rumours about the big announcement is that there will be a fight between world lightweight champion Ricky Burns and top contender Kevin Mitchell but this has been overshadowed by the fact that Haye and Chisora could end up in the ring together.

The fight cannot be a professional fight as the British Boxing Board Of Control will not allow it as both fighters do not have a license. Chisora had his taken away after his bad behaviour in Germany which involved him slapping Vitali Klitschko, spitting in the face of Wladimir Klitschko and more importantly brawling with Haye at the post-fight press conference. Haye has been retired since last October so he couldn't be punished for his actions but the  BBBofC will most likely never allow him to fight again.

FrankWarren has not given too much information as to what the big announcement is about. All he has said so far is: "It's difficult for me to comment on it at the money. There's a lot of stuff that has happened."

In previous interviews he has said that the fight is "inevitable" and "the biggest fight out there."

It was hard to actually believe the rumours when I first heard them but now more and more people are talking about an it's even been written about in some of the newspapers. All I know is that if it does happen it is a fight that can definitely not be missed.

Burns Vs Mitchell may be a done deal!

Ricky Burns                                            Kevin Mitchell

According to promoter Frank Warren, there will be a big announcement on Tuesday (May 8th) about a big fight coming up in Britain. Many people think that this announcement will be a July showdown between WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns and Kevin Mitchell that will take place at Upton Park.

I really hope this is true as it is one of the main domestic fights that everybody wants to see. The fighters have been talking about it for a long time but until now there hasn't been much chance of it happening. Negotiations apparently fell through as Mitchell was demanding too much money, but this seems to have changed.

Burns (34-2, 9 KO's) was originally meant to fight on July 1st but that has been called off. The Scotsman has really proved himself over the last few years. He has been in there with some of the best and came out on top. It all started when he upset the odds to beat Roman Martinez to win the WBO super-featherweight title in 2010. This fight was followed with a few easy defences against the likes of Nicky Cook but he then moved up to 135lb.

'Rickster' has already reached more success as a lightweight. In November of last year he won the WBO interim title against Michael Katsidis and then defended it this year against very durable Paulus Moses.

Mitchell (33-1,24 KO's) seems untouchable in the domestic fights but he is yet to prove himself at world level. He was stopped in just three rounds against Katsidis in 2010. After this fight he went few a problems outside of the ring but I won't go into that too much. However, recently he has turned his life around and got himself back on track for another world title shot.

If this fight does happen it will no doubt be the biggest domestic fight to happen this year and Upton Park will be a fantastic venue for it. The bout has not been confirmed yet but after such massive demand, the fighters and their promoters can't surely say no.

Boxing comes home!

Outside view of the Royal Albert Hall.

Last night (April 28th) I had the privilege of being a spectator at the Royal Albert Hall for the first professional boxing show to be staged there in 13 years and I have to take my hat off to Frank Warren for putting on a fantastic show even with world champion Nathan Cleverly pulling out.

Picture taken by Jack Price.

The atmosphere was amazing! Even the first few fights felt like you watching to world class fighters boxing in massive arena. Three of the eight fights ended in the first round but the five that didn't end early made up for it.

The fight of the night would have probably have to go to Matthew Hall Vs Sam Webb. It was a thrilling fight that could have easily gone either way. The decision was given to Webb but only just. The 31-year old had a large amount of support from the crowd whilst Hall's fans could hardly be heard but the former commonwealth champion managed to win over a large part of the crowd with his exciting and courageous fighting style.

Billy Joe Saunders beat Tony Hill in the main event, to become the new Commonwealth middleweight champion. 22-year old Saunders was simply too strong for Webb and managed to stop him less than a minute into the first round.

Frank Buglioni extended his unblemished record to 4-0 with a first round stoppage of his unknown Russian opponent. His loyal army of fans took over the place with their trademark chanting and dancing. It was hard to hear yourself think, the atmosphere was that intense and loud.

Other fights on the card included Bradley Saunders Vs Danny Donchev (Saunders 1st round stoppage), Bradley Skeete Vs Ross Payne (Skeete 1st round KO) and Andreas Evangelou Vs Jamie Kelly (draw).

Nathan Cleverly may not have been fighting but he was still there to support the other boxers and meet and greet with the fans. All the boxers on the card were happy to hang around after the show and take pictures with the fans.

Overall, it was a fantastic show with some great fights and I cannot wait for the next championship boxing at the Royal Albert Hall.

Billy Joe Saunders & Tony Hill go head-to-head at press conference!

Check out this exclusive footage provided by iFilmLondon at the press conference for Saturday's big fight between Billy Joe Saunders and Tony Hill at the Royal Albert Hall.

Steve O'meara could be the next big thing!

British Prospect Steve O'meara

British light-middleweight Steve O'meara is set to fight on the debut show of Frank Warren's BoxAcademy on May 3rd.

According to O'meara's promoter Francis Warren, the prospect from London will be the next big thing in the British light-middleweight division.

"O'Meara has really turned the corner and stepped up. Having not really stopped anyone during the early part of his career, his last two fights against Ryan Toms and Nathan Weise have been first-round victories. We know he's got class and believe he's ready for British title level at least. If he keeps winning, people are going to have to sit up and take notice... O'Meara's fit as a fiddle, he's a talented kid and is one of those guys who wants to keep busy."

BoxAcademy is British promoter Frank Warren's show that he claims will give young, up and coming British fighters the chance to prove themselves and let the British fans find out more about them.

O'meara tops the bill on May 3rd against former commonwealth champion Bradley Pryce who is a very experienced fighter. Matching O'meara with the Welshman is a massive gamble that could not pay off but if it does, and O'meara does beat him, it will certainly announce the 28-year old at British title level.

Tickets for BoxAcademy are available from the Queensberry promotions Box Office (01992 550 888) and are priced at £35 or £50.

BoxNation signs deal with Golden Boy Promotions!

'The home of boxing' BoxNation has raised it's game by reaching an 
agreement with Golden Boy Promotions - announcing that they will now be 
airing two live Golden Boy events each month. 

This means that fight fans in the UK will be getting much more quality 
boxing content due to the fact that BoxNation's stable of boxers will 
be under less pressure to step into the ring to fill airtime and can 
focus on higher quality fights. 

The first broadcast will be on April 21st when Abner Mares takes on 
Erik Morel in a double world title show that also includes Anselmo 
Moreno Vs David De La Mora. 

This will be followed by the rematch of 
Bernard Hopkins and Chad Dawson on April 28th for the WBC world 
light-heavyweight title. 

BoxNation had already announced that they will be televising live from 
Las Vegas on May 5th for one of the biggest fights of the year between 
Floyd Mayweather Jr and Miguel Cotto. On the same card will be, Saul 
Alvarez Vs Sugar Shane Mosely. 

The CEO of BoxNation commented on the deal:

“This is a tremendous addition to BoxNation’s lineup of world class 
boxing... Golden Boy hosts the best of the sport from the United States 
and along with the top action from Europe and the UK now means that we 
can arguably claim to be the best boxing channel ever.” 

Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer added:”We are pleased to 
expand our relationship with BoxNation and bring British fight fans at 
least two Golden Boy events every month.” 

This deal is good news for everyone in Great Britain. That's including the promoters, coaches and fighters but especially the fans. We are 
getting such a high quality of boxing for just £10 a month. Thanks to 
this wonderful idea by Frank Warren. 

BoxNation is available on SKY 456 and Virgin 546.

WBO refuse to sanction Cleverly fight!

Cleverly with Warren and WBO world title.

The World Boxing Organisation have announced that will not allow Nathan Cleverly to fight Robin Krasniqi in his 4th defence of the WBO light-heavyweight title. The fight was set to take place at the Royal Albert Hall on April 28th and it would have been the first world title fight there in over a decade, but now it could just be a non-title fight.

Dmitry Sukhotsky.

The WBO gave Cleverly permission to fight Tommy Karpency as long as his next defence was against their mandatory challenger Dmitry Sukhotsky. They also said the fight must take place within 120 days of his fight with Karpency who he beat on points on February 25th.

Cleverly's promoter Frank Warren announced the Krasniqi clash during a London press conference at lunchtime today but the WBO issued a statement on their website almost immediately after.

The could go ahead as just a non-title fight but Warren has said many times that he wanted it to be the first world title fight at the Royal Albert Hall in over a decade. To do this he must change the opponent to 30 year old Russian Sukhotsky.

Bernard Hopkins will fight Chad Dawson for the WBC world light-heavyweight title on the same day. If a world title fight Cleverly is organised then it will be likely that the winners of the two fights will meet in a big summer clash which will earn Cleverly and Warren megabucks!

Chisora Speaks Out About Ban

'Ex-Professional' Dereck Chisora.

So if you read our earlier article about Dereck Chisora's ban situation you will know that he has had his license revoked  for 'at least a few years.' At the time we wrote it, Chisora had not yet voiced his opinion publicly... But he has now.

When asked about the ban, Chisora told The Sun: ''I,m bitterly disappointed my license to box was taken away by the board. Right now I am an ex-professional trying to earn a living.''
He added: ''There is no time limit on how long the board plan to keep me from fighting but at the same time. I understand I can re-apply for my license at any time aswell.''

He then went on to talk about his future in boxing: ''My dream has always been to win the World Heavyweight Title and of course the punishment dished out is a big set back to me achieving those aims... But I will be back in the gym even though I do not know when the board will grant me a new license to box... I don't for one minute think it will be hard to motivate myself in the gym even though my promoter Frank Warren cannot plan for any bouts in the immediate future.''

Chisora apologised again for his bad behavior in Munich: ''I am already on record as saying I bitterly regret what happened in Germany, and if anyone wants to hear it again; Im sorry.''

There have been a few rumors flying around that Chisora may plan to leave the country and fight some place else but we can be sure that one place he won't be heading for a very long time is a World title fight.

Dereck Chisora has license revoked!

Chisora at the hearing in Cardiff.

As you all probably know by now, heavyweight Dereck Chisora had to attend a hearing today where his future in boxing was up for debate, and we now know that he has been banned from boxing for at least a few years according to the BBBofC (British Boxing Board of Control).

General secretary Robert Smith said that the board's stewards decided that that Chisora was not ''a fit and proper person'' to hold a boxer's license and it is unclear whether the controversial 28 year old will ever fight in this country again.

Chisora left in a taxi straight after the hearing without commenting but he did tweet shortly after saying ''Three words: M.G.M... Here I come.'' Nobody is quite sure what this is meant to mean but there will surely be a lot of people harassing him for answers on Twitter so we will no doubt have a story for you later on where Chisora goes next.

Frank Warren (Chisora's promoter) said: ''His license got withdrawn and what will happen now is we'll consider whether to appeal the decision.'' They only have 14 days to do so.

Chisora & Haye face-to-face just
moments before their infamous bust up.

When asked about David Haye, Robert Smith said ''With regard to David Haye, he is not a license holder. However, if he should apply for a license... the part he played in the disgraceful scenes that occured in the post-contest press conference will be considered and taken into account before any decision is made.'' So we can be certain that we will not see a Haye-Chisora clash in the near future.

If your like us and wondering when Chisora can reapply for a license and maybe fight again, this is the only answer we have got from Smith: ''There has been no set period when Chisora can reapply for his license. He no longer is a license holder with the British boxing board. Any person is allowed to reapply at some point. Obviously the board will consider any application. What happens in the future, I do not know. But what we're obviously talking about is a few years.''

So... Until we find out any more information about the situation, let us know what you think by telling us on Twitter (@BoxingOpinions1).

Personally we think that a ban was very harsh compared to other fighters punishments in the past.

Frank Warren talks 'Behind Enemy Lines' - Chisora-Wilder, Vassell-Gavin, Smith-Dodson

@IFILMLONDON

Frankie Gavin discusses Denton Vassell fight!

@IFILMLONDON