Cleverly 174, Krasniqi 173 en Londres

El campeón mundial semipesado de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), el invicto galés Nathan Cleverly, se enfrentará al retador mandatorio alemán Robin Krasniqi, intentando defender por quinta ocasión su corona, en el combate estelar de la velada que se desarrollará en la noche del sábado en el Wembley Arena de Londres, Inglaterra, en una presentación de Frank Warren.

Cleverly (25-0, 12 KOs), que viene de realizar su primera defensa en Estados Unidos al detener en ocho asaltos al estadounidense Shawn Hawk el pasado 10 de noviembre en Los Ángeles, intentará revalidar su reinado frente a Krasniqi (39-2, 15 KOs), N° 1 del ranking mundial semipesado de la OMB, y actual monarca europeo e internacional OMB, que llega a su primera oportunidad mundialista.

En la tarde del viernes, ambos superaron la ceremonia de pesaje, dejando todo listo para su duelo titular. Cleverly registró 174 libras. En tanto Krasniqi marcó 173 libras.

Cleverly, nacido en Caerphilly, Gales, hace 26 años, buscará retener la corona que conquistó primero interina el 11 de diciembre de 2010 en fallo unánime sobre el francés Nadjib Mohammedi en Liverpool, Inglaterra. Defendió la corona, ya regular, sobre el polaco Aleksy Kuziemski (KOT 4), el inglés Tony Bellew (DM 12), el estadounidense Tommy Karpency (DU 12), siempre en el Reino Unido, hasta que viajó a tierras estadounidenses donde el pasado 10 de noviembre noqueó técnicamente en ocho asaltos al estadounidense Shawn Hawk en Los Ángeles, en su última presentación.

Krasniqi, por su parte, oriundo de Munich, Bayern, y de 26 años, registra apenas dos reveses pero cuando recién comenzaba su carrera, en su primera y tercera pelea. Desde allí se ha mantenido imbatido en treinta y ocho presentaciones. El 21 de octubre de 2011 derrotó al francés Abdelkahim Derghal por nocaut técnico en el cuarto round y se alzó con el cinturón europeo semipesado OMB, que luego refrendó al noquear en el duodécimo al francés Hakim Zoulikha. Tras ello, el pasado 25 de agosto añadió la faja internacional semipesada OMB al liquidar en cuatro capítulos a su compatriota Serdar Sahin, cinto que retuvo el 16 de noviembre al terminar en el tercero con el estadounidense Max Heyman, en Magdeburgo, Alemania, en lo que fue su última actuación.

Las autoridades designadas por la OMB son: el árbitro será el estadounidense Mark Nelson. Los jueces serán Denny Nelson, de Estados Unidos, Zoltan Enyedi, de Hungría, y Phil Edwards, de Reino Unido. El supervisor será el húngaro Istvan Kovacs.

En el combate semiestelar, el campeón europeo ligero OMB, el invicto inglés Liam Walsh (13-0, 10 KOs), se enfrentará al escocés Scott Harrison (27-2-2, 15 KOs), intentando defender por primera ocasión su corona.  Tanto Walsh como Harrison detuvieron la báscula en 134.5 libras.  

En otra atracción de la noche, que se desarrollará en categoría pesado, el ex retador mundialista inglés Dereck “Del Boy” Chisora (15-4, 9 KOs), chocará contra el ex campeón argentino crucero, el bonaerense Héctor “El Tiburón” Ávila (20-12-1, 13 KOs), actual monarca mundo hispano pesado del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (WBC), en un enfrentamiento no titular y a la distancia de diez asaltos. Chisora acusó 252 libras. En tanto Ávila pesó 218 libras.

En combate complementario, el campeón Commonwealth (Imperio Británico) supermosca, el nigeriano Yaqub Kareem (10-2-1, 7 KOs), se medirá al inglés Paul Butler (10-0, 5 KOs), buscando la primera defensa de su cinturón. Kareem marcó 114.5 libras, mientras que Butler dio 114 libras. 

Resultados del pesaje:

Nathan Cleverly 174 lbs. vs. Robin Krasniqi 173 lbs.

Título mundial semipesado OMB

Liam Walsh 134.5 lbs. vs. Scott Harrison 134.5 lbs.

Título europeo ligero OMB

Dereck Chisora 252 lbs. vs. Héctor Ávila 218 lbs.

Yaqub Kareem 114.5 lbs. vs. Paul Butler 114 lbs.

Título Commonwealth supermosca

Escenario: Wembley Arena, en Wembley, Londres, Inglaterra.

Promotor: Frank Warren.

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Cleverly_174_Krasniqi_173_en_Londres.php

Nathan Cleverly headlines with the fifth defence of his WBO World Light-Heavyweight title against mandatory challenger Robin Krasniqi in the main event, with Walsh, the WBO European Lightweight Champion versus former two-time world champion Scott Harrison as chief support; the return of Chisora, plus fast rising star Butler challenging Commonwealth Super-Flyweight Champion Yaqub Kareem for his title. The show on Saturday will be televised live and exclusive on The Channel of Champions BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546) starting at 7pm.

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=64517

Click the link below to see:

Purse Bid Minutes Cleverly vs. Krasniqi

Click the link below to see:

PURSE BID-CLEVERLY vs. KRASNIQI

El inglés Nathan Cleverly defendió con éxito su corona semipesada de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), al derrotar por nocaut técnico en el octavo round al estadounidense Shawn Hawk, este sábado por la noche en el combate estelar de una cartelera que fue organizada por la empresa Golden Boy Promotions en el Staples Center de Los Ángeles, California.

Cleverly, quien cumplió esta noche con la cuarta defensa de su corona de la OMB, se tomó su tiempo para acabar con Hawk, a quien envió dos veces a la lona en el séptimo round y dos más en el octavo, para imponerse por la vía rápida a los 1:53 minutos de ese round.

El referee Tony Crebs intervino después de esta cuarta caída, en vista de la superioridad mostrada por Cleverly a lo largo de este combate pactado a 12 rounds.

Luego de este triunfo, Cleverly mejoró su record a 25-0, con 12 nocauts, mientras que Hawk desmejoró a 22-3-1, con 16 nocauts.

//

Nathan Cleverly successfully defended his light heavyweight title of the World Boxing Organization (WBO), defeating by TKO in the eighth round to American Shawn Hawk, this Saturday night in the main event of a card that was organized by Golden Boy Promotions company at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Cleverly, who met tonight with the fourth defense of his WBO crown, took time to stop Hawk, whom he sent to the canvas twice in the seventh and two more in the eighth, to be imposed by way quick to 1:53 of that round.

The referee Tony Crebs intervened after this fall quarter, given the superiority shown by Cleverly along this bout scheduled 12 rounds.

After this triumph, Cleverly improved to 25-0, with 12 knockouts, while Hawk deteriorated to 22-3-1, with 16 knockouts.

 http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Resultado_2/Cleverly_se_impuso_a_Hawk_en_LA.php

Date: November 10, 2012

WBO Lt. Heavyweight Championship Title Bout

Location: Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, USA

Promoter: Promotion Zanfer

Supervisor: Richard De Cuir

Referee: Tony Crebs

Judge: Raul Caiz Sr, Patricia Morse Jarman, Pat Russell

Result: Cleverly won by TKO. Hawk down twice in rd 7 and once in rd 8.

OMB ANUNCIA ÁRBITROS Y JUECES PARA COMBATES DE TÍTULO MUNDIAL, ESTE SÁBADO, 10 DE NOVIEMBRE, EN ALEMANIA Y ESTADOS UNIDOS

 La Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB) da a conocer los oficiales que estarán trabajando este sábado, 10 de noviembre, en los combates de título mundial, que se llevarán a cabo en Alemania y en Estados Unidos.

En el O2 World Arena de Altona, Hamburgo, Alemania, el ucraniano Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KOs) expondrá por novena ocasión su título de peso completo de la OMB ante el polaco Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KOs), en una presentación de K2 Promotions. En este pleito, el árbitró será Edward Cotton, de Estados Unidos.

Mientras, los jueces que trabajarán en esta reyerta serán los estadounidenses Adalaide Byrd y Mike Ancona, y el canadiense Pasquale Procopio. El supervisor de la OMB para este encuentro será John Duggan.

Entretanto, en el Staples Center de Los Ángeles, California, el monarca semicompleto (175 libras) de la OMB, el británico Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KOs) realizará la cuarta defensa de su correa cuando se enfrente al estadounidense Shawn Hawk (23-2, 17 KOs) en una presentación de Golden Boy Promotions. Para este choque, el tercer hombre sobre el cuadrilátero será Tony Crebs, de Estados Unidos.

Los jueces que oficiarán la pelea Cleverly-Hawk son los estadounidenses Raúl Caíz Sr., Patricia Morse Jarman y Pat Russell. El supervisor de la OMB para este combate será Richard De Cuir.

//

The World Boxing Organization (WBO) anounces the officers who will be working this Saturday, November 10, in world title bouts, which will take place in Germany and the United States.

The O2 World Arena in Altona, Hamburg, Germany, Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko (58-3, 51 KOs) for the ninth time expose his heavyweight title against WBO Polish Mariusz Wach (27-0, 15 KOs), in a presentation of K2 Promotions. In this case, the referee will Edward Cotton, U.S..

Meanwhile, the judges who work in this brawl are Americans Adalaide Byrd and Mike Ancona, and Pasquale Procopio Canadian. WBO supervisor for this meeting will be John Duggan.

Meanwhile, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, the monarch Heavyweight (175 pounds) of the WBO, the British Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KOs) will make the fourth defense of his belt when he takes on American Shawn Hawk (23-2, 17 KOs) in a presentation of Golden Boy Promotions. For this match, the third man in the ring will be Tony Crebs, U.S..

Judges who officiate the fight Cleverly-Hawk are Americans Raul Caiz Sr., Patricia Morse Jarman and Pat Russell. WBO supervisor for this fight will be Richard De Cuir.

Aleudi Rosario

NATHAN CLEVERLY will defend his WBO World light-heavyweight title against Shawn Hawk at the Staples Center, Los Angeles on Saturday night, live on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546).

The American, 28, steps in at short notice and replaces Ryan Coyne who was forced out of the big showdown because of contractual problems.

Welsh ring idol Cleverly said: “He has a good record with a high KO ratio. So he’s a big puncher and I won’t treat him lightly because I can’t get careless or reckless.

“He has a big opportunity by coming in late for a world title bid. He has nothing to lose. He is dangerous but I will be on my guard.”

Hawk, known as the Sioux Warrior because of his American-Indian background, has 23 wins, two losses and a draw to his name and jumped at the chance when the offer to fight Cleverly landed.

He has stopped 17 of his opponents – 15 of them inside three round – and holds win over decent men like Otis Griffin and Henry Buchanan.

Cleverly, 25, warned: “I will be aiming to look good and will definitely be trying to take him out.

Cleverly admitted that the late switch has caused him a slight problem. He has sparred with southpaw boxers preparing for Coyne while South Dakota’s Hawk is orthodox.

“If I go on my fighting instincts I should be fine on fight night. I should be able to do the business.

“I got to the stage where I didn’t care anymore who I was fighting. I decided I was ready to come here and fight whoever it is.”

Cleverly v Hawk is live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky Ch. 437/Virgin Ch. 546). Join at boxnation.com.

http://www.boxingscene.com/nathan-cleverly-face-hawk-on-mares-moreno-card–58994

El campeón mundial semipesado de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), el invicto galés Nathan Cleverly, se enfrentará al imbatido estadounidense Ryan Coyne, exponiendo por cuarta ocasión su corona, en uno de los combates titulares de la velada que se desarrollará el sábado 10 de noviembre en el Staples Center de Los Ángeles, California, Estados Unidos, en una cartelera presentada por Golden Boy Promotions y que será televisada por Showtime, siempre y cuando el pleito sea aprobado por la OMB.

Ante Coyne (21-0-0-1 sd, 9 KOs), de origen irlandés. Cleverly (24-0, 11 KOs), estará realizando su segunda presentación fuera del Reino Unido -y en tierras estadounidenses-, dado que derrotó en un combate a ocho asaltos en fallo unánime al probador local Antonio Baker el 19 de abril de 2008 en Las Vegas. Pero ahora, en una pelea grande, pretende dar el primer paso para insertarse en el mercado americano y acercarse a mayores bolsas y desafíos. Incluso ya ha expresado que es su deseo medirse en un futuro ante el monarca mundial semipesado de la Asociación Mundial de Boxeo (AMB), el kazajo Beibut Shumenov, o el titular semipesado de la Federación Internacional de Boxeo (FIB), el estadounidense Tavoris Cloud, en un duelo unificatorio, y hasta el ex campeón mundial estadounidense Bernard Hopkins. Por eso es fundamental que salga triunfante y con una convincente actuación sobre Coyne, que le abra las puertas para los grandes combates.

Cleverly, de 25 años, que viene de defender su corona por decisión unánime el estadounidense Tommy Karpency, el pasado 25 de febrero en Cardiff, Gales, anunció esta tarde su defensa ante Coyne, que actualmente no figura en el ranking mundial OMB de la división, pero se espera sea incluido en los próximos listados. No obstante, el apodado “Irish Outlaw” y nacido en Saint Charles, Missouri, hace 30 años, está clasificado N° 10 en el escalafón mundial semipesado del Consejo Mundial de Boxeo (WBC).

A pesar de arriesgar su invicto y su título lejos de casa, Cleverly no está preocupado. “Por lo que he visto de Coyne, parece fuerte, viene al frente y le gusta ir a pelear. Pero no tengo miedo de pararme a intercambiar, así que será emocionante para los fanáticos cando intercambiemos puños”, aseguró.

Y continuó: “Coyne parece tener agallas y dará todo de él dado que tiene mucho para perder al pelear en su país. Es una estrategia de alto riesgo ir hasta allá y poner mi récord y mi título  en juego, pero quiere dejar bien en claro que estoy aquí u listo para los mejores”.

“Estados Unidos es un mercado en el que todo peleador quiere brillar y esta es una oportunidad realmente emocionante y desafiante para mí. Una vez superada esta pelea, luego estoy listo para ir contra Shumenov, Cloud y Hopkins. Esos son los tipos que quiero para el año que viene”, anticipó.

El promotor Frank Warren, por su parte, agregó: “Con Shumenov y Cloud reacios a venir hasta aquí y pelear con Nathan, hemos tomado el toro por las astas y es Nathan quien se dirige a Estados Unidos”.

“Entre Shumenov, Cloud y Hopkins, Nathan es el más joven y fresco del grupo y creo que puede vencerlos a todos”, consideró.

“Pero primero debe superar a Coyne quien de ninguna manera es una pelea fácil y buscará terminar con el sueño americano de Cleverly”, concluyó.

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Reporte_7/Cleverly_expone_vs_Coyne_en_Mares-Moreno.php

WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KO’s) will be defending his title on October 27th against Ukraine’s Vyacheslav Uzelkov (27-2, 16 KO’s) at the Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff, Wales, UK. This should be one of Cleverly’s easier fights, as 33-year-old Uzelkov has already exposed in losses to Beibut Shumenov and Eduard Gutknecht in the past two years.

#9 WBO, Uzelkov basically has little more than a puncher’s chance of winning this fight at beat. He’s got decent power, but he doesn’t throw too many combinations. It’s either a big right hand or nothing from Uzelkov. His stamina is also a problem area for him, as we saw in his fights agaisnt Gutknecht and Shumenov where he gassed out after six rounds and was pretty much working on fumes the rest of the fight.

I see this fight a step down from Tony Bellew for Cleverly, because Bellew is a better puncher than Uzelkov with better stamina and workrate. I’m not excited about this fight at all. I’d much rather see Cleverly fight someone like Jurgen Brahmer, Cornelius White, Isaac Chilemba, or Gutknecht. To be honest, there’s not a lot to choose from in the top 15 for the WBO. The competition is god awful and at this rate, Cleverly could hold onto his World Boxing Organization 175 pound title for many years without ever facing anyone that is a real threat to him.

Cleverly is incredibly beatable, but the competition is so awful. There’s only like four or five halfway decent fighters in the entire division, and that makes it easy for a flawed guy like Cleverly to hold down one of the world title straps in this watered down and weak division.

As far as the fight goes, Uzelkov has a puncher’s chance just like Bellew did. If he can land one of his big right hands right on Cleverly’s grill, he could knock him out. Most of Uzelkov’s knockouts have come early on, so if he’s going to get to Cleverly it will have to be early before he gasses out.

By Scott Gilfoid

http://www.boxingnews24.com/2012/09/cleverly-to-defend-title-against-uzelkov-on-october-27th/

The British Boxing Board of Control is set to licence Ricky Burns’s WBO lightweight title defence against Kevin Mitchell at Glasgow’s SEC Arena on September 22 and are likely to do the same again for Nathan Cleverly’s October 27 WBO light-heavyweight title fight with Vyacheslav Uzelkov at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena.

This latest development has nixed recent rumours that the BBBoC could snub these contests due to the fallout from the recent Upton Park show featuring David Haye and Dereck Chisora, which was held under the auspices of the Luxembourg Boxing Federation and initially prompted a stern response from the Board.  The ruling body, though, collapsed quicker than a drunk on a blancmange and later recanted their threat of immediate action against any BBBoC license-holders who took part in the event.

The WBO risked drawing the Board’s ire at the time of the show as the organisation put their WBO International heavyweight title on the line for the grudge match.  In a strange bit of synergy, the title did not exist prior to the Haye-Chisora fight and was thought up, rubberstamped and minted just in time for the money spinning main event.

Indeed, the WBO also allowed Liam Walsh and Domenico Urbano to contest their vacant European lightweight belt on the undercard.  Furthermore, the WBO’s International middleweight title, also newly minted, appeared for the first time when Matthew Hall dropped a close unanimous decision to Gary O’Sullivan further down the bill.

Frank Warren Promotions are staging the Burns and Cleverly shows.  Frank Warren has always been quick to point out that BoxNation, in conjunction with Hayemaker, promoted the Upton Park bill.  This means that Warren’s only offence that night was acting as Chisora’s manager and this was hardly an transgression in the end as by fight night no one, one suspects not even the Board, knew what action, if any, would be taken.

Since that night, Frank Warren Promotions have not staged a show, although this is hardly surprising given that the British scene has been on lockdown in recent weeks.  This will change with Friday’s York Hall bill, which is headlined by Billy Joe Saunders’s Commonwealth middleweight title defence against Australia’s Jarrod Fletcher and promoted by FWP.

Given that Friday’s show will take place under the BBBoC there now no longer seems to be any logical grounds for any involvement from the LBF and the early months of the season could see a line drawn under British boxing’s summer of division and discontent.

By: Terence Dooley

Nathan Cleverly will make the fourth defence of his WBO light-heavyweight championship against Vyacheslav Uzelkov at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on October 27.

Uzelkov, the 33-year-old Ukrainian, has a 27-2 professional record, with 16 knockout victories. He lost a wide points decision to Beibut Shumenov, the WBA king, in 2010 on the only other occasion he has attempted to win a world title.

He was also unsuccessful during a shot at the European crown earlier this year, but is ranked ninth by the WBO, fourth by the WBA and seventh by the IBF. As an amateur, he faced David Haye at the 2001 World Championships in Belfast, losing on points in the semi-final.

“Uzelkov’s ranked in the top ten of three of the major governing bodies and has already mixed it with Shumenov for the world title so I know he’ll be a hard defence for me,” Cleverly said.

“I’ve seen some of his fights already and he looks strong and [likes to] come forward which will be perfect for me.”

Cleverly has made three defences of the WBO strap so far, against Aleksy Kuziemski, Tony Bellew and Tommy Karpency.

Frank Warren, Cleverly’s promoter, has vowed to put the Welshman in against a few more recognisable names post-Uzelkov. “It’s proved frustrating as we had [Bernard] Hopkins lined up and then he pulled out, and Shumenov didn’t want to come over here to fight Cleverly, plus [Carl] Froch and Bellew didn’t want to know,” he said.

“While we look to make these fights Cleverly has got to keep busy as he hasn’t fought since February – and Uzelkov is a tough title defence for him.”
Read more at

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/168359.html

World Champion Nathan Cleverly has been forced to withdraw from his World Boxing Organization (WBO) Light-Heavyweight title defence against Robin Krasniqi due to a viral infection.

The unbeaten Welsh star was scheduled to face Kosovan Krasniqi on Saturday 28th April at the Royal Albert Hall in London, but has been unable to train for his fourth title defence.

Hatfield’s Olympic star Billy Joe Saunders, who was chief support on the card, will now replace Cleverly and headline the first night of professional championship boxing to be held at the world famous venue in nearly 13 years when he takes on Tony Hill for the Vacant English Middleweight title.

Joint top of the bill on the show will see Chislehurst’s Sam Webb in a final eliminator for the British Light-Middleweight Championship against Manchester’s hard-hitting Matthew Hall.

A devastated Cleverly said, “I’ve been unable to train because I’ve been laid up in bed with a viral infection and there’s not enough time to make up what I’ve missed in training to make sure I’m fully fit,”

“I’ve taken the advice of my doctor and been told to fully rest before attempting to start training again,”

“I’m really disappointed because I was looking forward to being the first fighter to bring boxing back to the Royal Albert Hall in over a decade and the first of the century,”

“It was a big night for me as Hopkins was facing Dawson on the same night and I was looking to do a good job on Krasniqi to get a fight with the winner,”

“I’m sorry for my fans, but I’m happy that the show will go on and a great talent like Billy Joe Saunders will now be topping the card along with Sam Webb and Matthew Hall which looks like a cracking fight.”

Saunders, the Southern Area Middleweight champion, said, “This is a great chance for me to shine on the show and show my potential,”

“I’m Britain’s next star in the making and to now headline the Royal Albert Hall is dream come true for me and I will put on a fight to remember against Hill.”

Promoter Frank Warren added, “It’s such a shame that Cleverly has been hit with a viral infection and at a crucial time in his training and career,”

“He is unable to fight and he now needs to have a good rest, get himself healthy and resume training before we look to reschedule his title defence,”

“However, Billy Joe Saunders, who is one of the best young talents in Britain right now, is hungry and ready to prove that he is next big thing and this is the perfect occasion for him to do this.”

The rest of the card features some of the best talent in Britain including unbeaten welterweight Bradley Skeete; hard-hitting super-middleweight Frank Buglioni, light-welterweight Bradley Saunders; welterweights Freddie Turner and Dean Byrne.

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=31632&more=1

WBO President, Francisco Valcarcel clarifies the reasons which lead to the sanction of the Nathan Cleverly vs. Robin Krasniqi bout scheduled for April 28, 2012 at the Royal Albert Hall in Kensington, London, despite having previously said that it would not be sanctioned because Nathan Cleverly had to face the mandatory challenger.

Unfortunately though, #1 ranked Dmitry Sukhotsky has managerial issues. He has three different promoters calling the shots for his fights.  Meanwhile, the actual promoter who was awarded the judgment, the boxer doesn’t even want to deal with.  This entire issue is not conducive to anyone attempting to negotiate a contract.

Then, there’s the #2, Braimah Kamoko…  Back in 2006, the BBB of C did not allow Mr. Kamoko to fight in the UK due to cataracts.  He was supposed to resubmit his medical documents.  The WBO attempted to get him approved by the BBB of C, but unfortunately UK’s doctors, denied the necessary permission that would have allowed him to fight in their country.

The sanction given to Cleverly – Krasniqi has the provision that the winner must face the mandatory challenger designated by the WBO within 90 days from the date of the bout; i.e. April 28, 2012.  The WBO has yet to advise the parties who the mandatory challenger will be.  President Valcarcel says that Bernard Hopkins has not been designated the Mandatory Challenger. The WBO has not designated anyone yet so all rumors regarding a Cleverly – Hopkins bout sometime in the summer is just that – rumors.

After successfully making a second defence of his WBO Africa Light Heavyweight belt, albeit controversially against Sweden based Ugandan Hamza Wandera, Braimah Kamoko has indicated his readiness to take on the big boys in the division in world boxing.

Banku claimed a 3rd round TKO to secure his win number 23 in 23 professional fights, but it was not without sweat. Wandera had boldly predicted beforehand that he was going to end the Ghanaian nicknamed Bukom Banku’s unbeaten record. Wandera served notice of his intention by scoring a knockdown of Kamoko in the very first round, the first time the Ghanaian showman had ever visited the canvas in his career.

But the unbeaten Bukom Banku bounced back in style and dominated Wandera for the rest of the fight until the Ugandan refused to continue fighting in the 3rd round following complaints that he had been fouled by the Ghanaian boxer. Referee Roger Barnor had no choice than to declare Kamoko the winner.

Even though Wandera has consequently declared his wish for a rematch with international referee and judges, Bukom Banku is less likely to pursue such option because the unbeaten Ghanaian is keen on becoming world champion.

“I’m not sitting down, I’m going forward. I’m going to fight (WBO Light heavyweight champ Nathan) Cleverly for world title. I’ve set a perfect record in my country, now I have to go international.
And I’m more than ready,” the highly eccentric Kamoko indicated after the fight.

By Prince Dornu-Leiku

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=30927&more=1

Nathan Cleverly is set to defend his WBO light heavyweight title in just over eight weeks’ time prior to a summer unification bout, potentially with Bernard Hopkins.

Welshman Cleverly successfully protected his WBO crown on Saturday in Cardiff, taking a unanimous decision over American Tommy Karpency, and the 25-year-old’s promoter Frank Warren is eager for his man to fight again on April 28.

Warren has the Royal Albert Hall booked and wants Cleverly to top the bill on the same evening that Hopkins faces Chad Dawson in Atlantic City for the WBC crown, and if everything goes to plan a unification this summer could be on the cards.

“I have the date booked for April 28th, the same night that Bernard Hopkins defends the WBC title in his rematch with Chad Dawson,” confirmed Warren.

Cleverly meanwhile is desperate to face ‘The Executioner’, and would love to do so on home soil.

“I don’t just think it would be a great fight, it would be a great event,” said Cleverly.

“Obviously it depends how the fight between Dawson and Hopkins goes on April 28th.

“If Hopkins gets badly beaten up, he may well retire. But if he loses it could still be a viable defence to have here in Wales.

“He’s the oldest champion in history, and an icon in the sport, and I’d love to have the ‘W’ against him on my record.”

Warren added: “It would put boxing back on the map in Wales again.”

http://www.espn.co.uk/football/sport/story/138357.html

Promoter Frank Warren hopes to set Nathan Cleverly up with a big summer bout against Bernard Hopkins in Cardiff.

Welshman Cleverly successfully defended his WBO light-heavyweight title on Saturday night by beating Tommy Karpency on points.

Warren would like his next outing to be at London’s Royal Albert Hall in April – the venue’s first professional boxing bill for 10 years – but a megafight with American veteran Hopkins is where big money could be made.

The Caerphilly fighter, who completely outclassed Karpency in Cardiff en route to a unanimous decision from the judges, has already spoken of his desire to move on to a big unification fight, with the winner of the April 28 WBC title clash between Chad Dawson and Hopkins top of the agenda.

While Warren is looking to put that contest on at the Millennium Stadium or Cardiff City Stadium, he has also revealed he hopes the Welshman will defend his belt in London, also on April 28.

Warren said: “Nathan is coming on in leaps and bounds and all our attention will now of course turn to April 28 and the Bernard Hopkins v Chad Dawson fight, then we will be making a big decision about a fight in the summer.

“In the meantime I have the Royal Albert Hall booked for April 28.

“I don’t know if Nathan will be ready for that but I would not mind him being the guy to take boxing back there.

“There has been no professional boxing there for many, many years, it is probably the best venue in the country, the most prestigious venue and you could not get a better representative for British boxing than Nathan, to showcase taking professional boxing back there.”

As for a potential summer stadium bout in south Wales, which would hark back to the glory days of former super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe, Warren says his preferred opponent for such a contest is Hopkins, and

defeat to Dawson would not rule the veteran American out of facing Cleverly.

He said: “For me the best fight for Nathan would be Hopkins.

“I have a feeling Dawson may upset the odds when they face each other, he will give him a lot of problems, but I would prefer Hopkins.

“He is a big name, he had a good fight with Joe Calzaghe and if we brought him over and did that show at Cardiff City Stadium or the Millennium Stadium, it would be a great atmosphere with maybe 50,000 people in there.

“Nathan needs big fights, he rises to them and he has great temperament.”

Cleverly, whose victory extended his 100 per cent record to 24 wins from 24 fights, said he would gladly accept the chance to fight Hopkins, and also suggested he would be ready to fight again on Warren’s mooted Royal Albert Hall date.

“I want to go and get a few more fights as champion to keep learning about being world champion,” he said. “This wasn’t a brutal fight so I will be fine for April, it will be good to keep active.”

He added: “I think I am ready to be unified champ.

“Hopkins and Dawson are the elite guys in the division, if you want to be the best those are guys you have to head for.

“I think I will be ready by the summer, if the opportunity came I would grab it with both hands and feel I could win the fight.

“Hopkins is a legend of the sport, an icon in the division, he has that aura. The fans showed their support by coming out tonight and I am sure that would be a good fight.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=50015

El inglés Nathan Cleverly no tuvo problemas para asegurar la tercera defensa de la corona semipesada de la Organización Mundial de Boxeo (OMB), al derrotar por decisión unánime al estadounidense Tommy Karpency, este sábado por la noche en el pleito estelar de una cartilla que fue organizada en la Arena Motorpoint de Cardiff, Gales, Reino Unido.

 Cleverly navegó cómodo en esta victoria sobre Karpency, a quien dominó sin mayores problemas en cada uno de los rounds, rumbo a una clara decisión 120-108 en las tres tarjetas de los jueces.

 Con este triunfo, Cleverly mejoró su record a 24-0, con 11 nocauts, mientras que Karpency quedó con 21-3-1, con 14 nocauts.

 Cleverly ganó el título en diciembre de 2010 al vencer a Nadjib Mohammedi, y lo defendió en dos ocasiones en 2011 con triunfos sobre Aleksy Kuziemski y Tony Bellew. Karpency, entretanto, se encuentra clasificado número 11 por la OMB en las 175 libras.

 En esta misma cartilla, el ex campeón mundial crucero de la OMB, ahora combatiendo en los pesos completos, Enzo Maccarinelli (34-5, 27 nocauts) se impuso en dos vueltas a Ciaran Healy (13-18-1, 4 nocauts), mientras que el prospecto peso welter Frankie Gavin (12-0, 9 nocauts) resolvió por la vía rápida, en tres rounds, a Kevin McIntyre (30-9, 9 nocauts) y el superpluma Craig Evans (6-0, 2 nocauts) noqueó en el primero a Marc Callaghan (19-29-1).

http://www.notifight.com/artman2/publish/Resultado_2/Cleverly_derrot_claramente_a_Karpency.php

WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KOs) scored a one-sided, but uninspired twelve round unanimous decision over heavy underdog Tommy Karpency (21-3-1, 14 KOs) on Saturday night at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. Cleverly was in command all the way, but was never able to sufficiently break through the cover of the defensive-minded Karpency to get the stoppage. Scores were 120-108 on all cards. It was Cleverly’s first fight in his native Wales in almost four years.

“Tommy is very tough,” said Cleverly afterward. “Out of every fighter I’ve fought, he’s punched the hardest so far. And I’ve fought some big punchers…It was a nice performance, a good workout. It was exciting and there’s plenty more to come from me.”

Former WBO cruiserweight champion, now fighting as a light heavyweight, Enzo Maccarinelli (34-5, 27 KOs) dropped journeyman Ciaran Healy (13-18-1, 4 KOs) with a body shot in round two and Healy’s corner threw in the towel moments later.

Unbeaten welterweight prospect and 2008 Olympian Frankie Gavin (12-0, 9 KOs) scored a third round KO over Kevin McIntyre (30-9, 9 KOs). A body shot finished it.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/results-from-cardiff-wales-109020

After a four year drought, WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (23-0, 11 KOs) receives a well earned homecoming this Saturday when he defends his WBO belt for a third time against Pennsylvania’s Tommy Karpency (21-2-1, 14 KOs) at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, Wales. An impressive victory will leave Cleverly primely placed for a huge outdoor blockbuster in the summer that could elevate him into an elite level earner.

Cleverly’s assessment top light heavyweights Bernard Hopkins, Chad Dawson, Jean Pascal, Beibut Shumenov and Tavoris Cloud:

For me, Hopkins is number one in our division. He’s the oldest world champion in the record books, a legend, but, with my youth and enthusiasm, I’d definitely fancy it.

I view (WBC king) Dawson as the most dangerous in the division. He’s big at the weight, southpaw, heavy handed and technically good as well. The timing would have to be right for that one, maybe a few more fights down the line.

Pascal is a fight that definitely interests me. I think our styles would really blend well. He’s a big name and a huge draw in his home country. I’d be prepared to go to Canada, if needed. He’s big, strong, powerful, pumped up, explosive but I’d back my speed and stamina to wear him down over the 12 rounds.

Shumenov (the WBA champion) is more inexperienced and that would be a good unification fight, a good stepping stone. He’s young and hungry and he’d definitely give me a tough fight but, from what I saw of him against (Gabriel) Campillo, it’s a fight I should definitely win.

Cloud (IBF boss) is a very vicious fighter; a big puncher who likes to come forward and stamp his authority. He’s an American who’s been given the Jeff Lacy style hype. He’s also quite busy and fit. Like Pascal, I think our styles would mesh well. We all like to fight on the front foot and get involved. It could be very entertaining.

If I could choose, I’d go with unification against either Shumenov or Cloud. Both would be progressive moves towards getting to the very top guys in the division, Hopkins and Dawson.

On former champ Juergen Braehmer, who handed over the title to Cleverly by pulling out of three straight defenses late and getting stripped.

He did make a comeback recently but didn’t look too sharp. He’s too temperamental, too unreliable to line up a fight with.

On a possible fight with former WBC super-middleweight boss Carl Froch, whom Cleverly recently called out:

I just think it makes sense. Two top British fighters, just one weight class apart. It would generate a lot of interest. Carl’s mentioned stepping up before and he’s mentioned my name in the past. We’ve both displayed our heart and guts, both like to stand and trade so it’d sure to be entertaining. If that was offered for this summer, I’d definitely take it. Carl’s tough, has a granite chin so it’d likely be a distance fight but I just think I’d have too much speed and movement.

On looking past Karpency:

The way I train, I don’t need an opponent to get up for. My main focus is always to improve myself; to be sharper, fitter, more technically sound. I’ve just opened a new gym in Aberbargoed and training there, plus the opportunity to fight in Wales again and deliver a spectacular performance for the Welsh fans, provide me with all the motivation I need.

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/cleverly-eyes-big-fight-in-summer-108601

Training camp is close to coming to a finish and WBO world light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has taken time to reflect on his preparation for The Homecoming at the Motorpoint Arena on February 25th.

Cleverly opened with, “Preparation has been excellent and I’m very, very satisfied with the way it’s gone. Mentally I feel focused and just so excited to go now.”

“I feel as though this is one of the better camps that I’ve done, it’s the best I’ve been in terms of mental focus. I’ve had the right preparation and the right length of time to train for the fight, I was given good notice. It’s been a good camp and one of the best I’ve done.”

Predominantly training at the new facility of the Planet Fitness gym in Aberbargoed has provided Cleverly with a larger ring and it’ll be put to good use one last time before fight night.

“I’ll have another good hard spar, one more before the fight and then I think that will be the final hard session before the fight and before we start tapering it down.” he explained.

The opponent will be American southpaw Tommy Karpency whose stance presents an added element to adjust to but Cleverly’s confident of enforcing himself on Karpency.

He said, “As always, I’m focusing on more what I can do in the fight, what I can improve on and I’ve been learning some things myself.”

“Obviously I’ve had a little look at Karpency to get an idea of what he’s about – his stance, style, the way he fights but I’m more concentrating on my technique and taking that into the ring.”

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=30791&more=1

Nathan Cleverly insists it would be a “recipe for disaster” to underestimate Tommy Karpency at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on February 25.

WBO light-heavyweight champion Cleverly has been matched against the little-known American for his homecoming fight.

While the unbeaten 24-year-old from Cefn Fforest hopes to treat the expected sell-out 5,000 crowd to a fine spectacle, he has ruled out complacency creeping into his preparations.

“It would be absolutely stupid and naive to underestimate any opponent in boxing, especially in a world title fight,” he said.

“It would be recipe for disaster. A lot of people have written Tommy off, but they’re not the ones who are stepping into the ring.

“When you face another trained fighter, you must be on your game, especially at this level.

“I’ve prepared even better than I have for any other fight.

“Tommy’s got nothing to lose and can give it everything knowing there’s a big prize at the end of the line.

“It’s my ambition to remain unbeaten and prevent that from happening.

“I want to enjoy the performance and put on a good display of boxing.

“It could go the distance and the most important thing is that physically and mentally I’m prepared to go 12 rounds.”

The unheralded Karpency has lost two of his 24 fights and had most people scratching their heads when he was unveiled as Cleverly’s next opponent.

But the 26-year-old from Pennsylvania insists he is capable of causing a major upset.

“I’m not sure who Nathan was in negotiations with for this fight, but for me this is the pinnacle of the sport, a world championship bout,” he said.

“The reason I was chosen as an opponent doesn’t affect my drive to win whatsoever.

“I’ve gone through my whole career without a promoter, my father’s my trainer and manager.

“I’ve been written off and that doesn’t really bother me, but I imagine Nathan’s camp haven’t written me off.

“I believe I can beat any light-heavyweight in the world. If I didn’t, I shouldn’t be in sport.”

http://www.boxingscene.com/?m=show&opt=printable&id=49363

World Boxing Organization (WBO) world light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly expects the Welsh and British boxing fans to be at their very best when he makes his long awaited homecoming on February 25th.

Cleverly will face American Tommy Karpency in the 3rd defence of his world title as he headlines the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff. He’ll be fighting in front of his own Welsh fans for the first time in 4 years and there are just a few hundred tickets left before the show sells out.

“The atmosphere is going to be awesome on the night. It’s going to be a sold out arena and such a good atmosphere. It’s going to give me a great buzz and there’s a good buzz around the fight. I’m excited to come out to an atmosphere like this, it’s going to be electric”, Cleverly commented.

Despite it being the first time that Cleverly will have headlined a show in his homeland, he’s aware that he mustn’t fall for the pitfalls of fighting at home.

“It would be very easy to get carried away once I hear the atmosphere. It would be easy to slip off my plan and go all guns blazing. But I know I can deal with the occasion and the pressure and I’m looking forward to going out and enjoying myself.” said Cleverly.

In the opposition corner will be Karpency and Cleverly is sure that he’ll have not seen any crowd like it before.

He said, “When Karpency hears the atmosphere from the crowd and then he has to deal with me putting it on him in the ring when the first bell goes then he knows he’s in the deep and it’s going to be a very difficult night for Karpency all round.”

http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=30667&more=1

Nathan Cleverly is hoping to help “bring the glory days back to Wales” when he takes on the “dangerous” Tommy Karpency at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on February 25.

The WBO light-heavyweight champion is busy preparing for his title defence, which will be his first fight in Wales since 2007, and is looking forward to having the eyes of the sporting world on Cardiff and Wales that weekend.

Hours before his clash with American Karpency, Wales collide with England at Twickenham, while Cardiff meet Liverpool in the Carling Cup final on Sunday at Wembley.

“It’s a great weekend of sport and it’s great to be involved,” the 24-year-old told the Daily Mail. “I can see why there could be potential pressure on me but I’m just enjoying the occasion, which I think will enhance my performance.

“It’s a big deal for myself, and for Welsh boxing; hopefully we can bring the glory days back to Wales. To come home as world champion is a special occasion.

“Training is going well, everything is on track. It’s just a case of focusing for the last three weeks.”

Many are tipping Cleverly to make light work of his opponent, but Karpency has never been stopped in 24 fights.

“He is tough,” said Cleverly. “He has operated at cruiserweight so he’s a strong fighter. He’s got not nothing to lose and there’s no pressure on him, so he’s potentially dangerous. He’s a trained fighter so he’s capable of causing an upset just like anyone else.”

Should Cleverly manage to safely negotiate his way past the challenge in front of him, bigger fights await the Welshman.

“After this fight we’ll be looking to get straight on the case and have a unification fight in the summer. Bernard Hopkins is regarded as No. 1 in the division and I know he’s got a big fight with Chad Dawson coming up. These guys are the ones you target to become the best you can.”

http://www.espn.co.uk/boxing/sport/story/134423.html

NATHAN Cleverly is capturing the imagination of the sporting public in South Wales.

Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena is hosting Clev’s WBO light-heavyweight title defence against Tommy Karpency on February 25 and has a boxing capacity of just under 5,000.

Only 900 tickets are left for the show and with four weeks to go a sell-out is on the cards.

“The atmosphere is going to be awesome,” Cleverly told me this week. “It’s going to be a sold-out arena and that’s going to give me a great buzz.

“It’s so exciting to know I’m going to come out to an atmosphere like this, it’s going to be electric.

“It’s difficult to gauge my fan base really because I haven’t fought at home for such a long time.

“But it’s very impressive that people are coming out to support me and it means a lot, it really does.

“Hopefully I can return the favour and put on a great performance for the fans.”

Cleverly’s ‘homecoming’ is in the middle of a huge weekend for Welsh sport.

Wales are in Six Nations action against England at Twickenham on the Saturday afternoon, while many of Clev’s fans could be at Wembley the following day to see Cardiff City play in the Carling Cup final.

Clev is a big City fan himself and is hoping for a weekend to remember.

“I hope we can make it a real successful and exciting weekend,” he said.

“It would be very easy to get carried away once I hear the crowd, slip off my plan and go all guns blazing.

“But I know I can deal with the occasion and the pressure and I’m looking forward to enjoying myself.

“When the first bell goes he’ll soon know he’s in deep, it’s going to be a very difficult night for Karpency all round.”

British and Commonwealth featherweight champion Lee Selby will be on the undercard on February 25 – and Cleverly is confident the Barry boxer will be joining him at the top soon.

Selby burst onto the scene in 2011 when he won his belts by knocking out the highly-touted Stephen Smith and then dismissing domestic veteran John Simpson.

“He has the potential to come as far as I have and push on now,” said Cleverly.

“He’s very talented and there’s no reason why he can’t get to world level.

“He’s got the boxing ability and skills and I definitely think he can follow in my footsteps.”

Both men are 24 and the pair shared much of their amateur days together.

“We came through together. We were always in the Welsh championships and he was a couple of weights below me,” recalled Clev.

“I’ve always known he’s had class and he’s showing that in the professional ranks now, he’s coming through very well.

“He took his opportunity to win the British and Commonwealth titles unexpectedly, but it wasn’t really a surprise to the people who knew him.

“He’s always had pedigree and I think he’s a very good fighter.”

I’m delighted to say I’m working with Team Cleverly on a VIP package to include pre-show hospitality and an after-show party on February 25.