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.
That's because the challenger comes in the shape of the
much-hyped Sergey Kovalev, a big punching, unbeaten Russian affectionately
known as 'The Crusher'. The Florida-based 30-year-old has been making plenty of
waves across the pond and burst onto the world scene by dispatching veteran
Gabriel Campillo in three rounds in January. He followed that up with another
three-round demolition in June, when the once highly regarded Cornelius White
was put to the sword.
With Gennady Golovkin, Lucas Matthysse and Adonis
Stevenson's performances, 2013 is becoming something of a 'Year of the
Puncher'. HBO executives are backing Kovalev (21-0-1, 19 KO’s) to join that
list of the most feared men in the sport, seeing the potential to turn the
Russian into a marketable resource should he have his hand raised this weekend.
For fans of Cleverly (26-0, 12 KO’s), well the predicament
may well bring about an air of deja vu. Seven years ago, a highly touted,
unbeaten knockout artist by the name of Jeff Lacy crossed the Atlantic, to rid
Wales of their unblemished, but unfancied 12-stone world champion. Joe Calzaghe
had other ideas however and put on a masterclass to dismantle the
'super-middleweight Mike Tyson', in the process tearing apart the best-laid
plans of Lacy and the American TV company that backed him.
There are of course parallels between the fight that turned
the unappreciated Calzaghe into a star and Cleverly's shot at global
recognition this Saturday. There has however been nothing yet to suggest
Cleverly's career can ever match up to that of his former mentor and sparring
partner. Kovalev also appears to be a much more refined pugilist than Lacy ever
was. Far from just being a puncher, Kovalev has underrated boxing ability and
applies educated rather than erratic pressure to score his knockouts. His
stellar amateur career – 193 victories in 213 bouts in the unpaid ranks – gives
testament to his technical ability.
Cleverly is no doubt the best boxer that Kovalev will have
encountered in his professional career though and possesses 1.5 inch height and
reach advantages over the challenger. The Welshman is most effective utilising
those attributes to box at range, where he can score with his telescopic jab
and set up high volume combinations.
He has also proven himself to be adept fighting at close
quarters, but that’s something that Cleverly should be wary of doing here.
Giving away a lot of firepower against a physically stronger opponent, Nathan
needs to avoid being dragged into exchanges and not let his inclination to
prove how well he takes a shot cloud his judgement.
There can be no dropping his hands and sticking his tongue
out while planting his feet because Kovalev will capitalise. That’s where the
home advantage can turn against Cleverly, should he feel the need to make sure
those in attendance are entertained. If he can maintain his composure and keep
it long, his activity alone could see him win enough rounds to retain his title
and prove the oddsmakers wrong just like Calzaghe did seven years ago.
It could well be edge of your seat stuff though, as Kovalev
has the power to take out anyone at 175. The only certainty? This fight surely
can’t fail to entertain.
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