Boxing: Cleverly's Vegas date

Jan 31 2008 by David Williams, Rhymney Valley Express

‘THE BIGGEST year of my boxing career’ is how Cefn Fforest’s Nathan Cleverly has described the next 12 months as he prepares for two huge fights in the space of a few months.

The 20-year-old will fight in Las Vegas on the under card of Joe Calzaghe’s bout with Bernard Hopkins in April before going for the Commonwealth light heavyweight title, probably at the end of May.

Cleverly will step up from super middleweight when he fights in the States on April 19 although he still has ambitions of winning titles at super middleweight.

His opponent in Las Vegas isn’t known yet but it is rumoured he could be taking on Dean Francis for the Commonwealth crown - both fights will be over six rounds.

The maths student can’t wait for what lies ahead.

“It’s a really exciting time,” he said.

“I just need to stay focused and grab my opportunity with both hands.

“I’m going from strength to strength and if I win the Commonwealth title the world’s my oyster.

“I’d like to go for a British title and then I’d be looking to go onto the world stage but I’m 100 per cent focused on these fights first.

“But this is the biggest year of my boxing career.”

Cleverly is preparing for his busy schedule by sparring with both Enzo Maccarinelli and Joe Calzaghe as they get ready to take on David Haye and Hopkins respectively.

Cleverly’s dad, Vince, is thrilled with his son’s progress.

“I’m a very proud father,” he said.

“He was ecstatic when Enzo called and said he would be taking on Francis.

“It gives him something to go for and Francis is no mug. He’s number 11 in the world.”

Vince, who trained his son when he first started out, can see a bright future for Nathan.

“With a bit of luck he could have a go for a British title in a year, maybe against Tony Oakey and then a world title in two years. He would like to win things at super middleweight and then go back up to light heavyweight and there is even talk of him moving up again to heavyweight.

“Joe and Enzo (Calzaghe) reckon he is a bit special and he has worked hard and I’ve worked hard with him in the past and he has got the right attributes to do well.”