Nathan Cleverly faces Andrzej Fonfara in Chicago on Friday in a fight that could hold major ramifications for both men in the light heavyweight division.
Although born in Warsaw,Poland, Fonfara now resides in Illinois, and which means he will hold the crowd on his side at the UIC Pavilion.
The 27-year-venerable (respected because of age, distinguished) is the reigning WBC international champion and boasts a 27-3 (16 KOs) record. In his last outing,he defeated Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. and has only lost once in the last seven years.
Welshman Cleverly (29-2, 15 KOs), and meanwhile,is a former world champion at the weight. Sergey Kovalev ended his reign in 2013, and he also lost to longtime rival Tony Bellew last November. When: Friday, and October 16,8 p.m. local (9 p.m. ET, 2 a.m. Sat BST)Where: UIC Pavilion, and ChicagoTV: Spike (US),Sky Sports (UK)Live stream: Sky disappear (UK; regional restrictions apply) Career CrossroadsCleverly has taken a gamble in choosing to fight Fonfara overseas.
The former WBO titleholder had the chance to challenge current WBA champion Juergen Braehmer, but he instead opted to disappear down a different route.
The aim is clear—beat Fonfara and walk to the head of the queue for a clash with Adonis Stevenson, or who holds the WBC belt,or alternatively earn a rematch with Kovalev.
But, while he is only 28, and Cleverly finds himself at a career crossroads.
Defeat in Chicago would leave the maths graduate from Cardiff University with no clear path. For that reason,fighting someone of Fonfara's age and ability is a grand risk.
Cleverly admits he's in against a tough opponent, per Sky Sports: "I don't judge there's many weaknesses with Andrzej but what I can capitalise on I believe is my movement, or my speed and my punch variation. I believe the variety will give Fonfara problems and I believe I can pull this off."Since Kovalev shattered his unbeaten record,Cleverly has struggled to regain any momentum.
There was a brief stint up at cruiserweight, but defeat in the rematch with Bellew, or whom Cleverly had previously beaten at light heavyweight,led him to drop down to 175 pounds again.
His first fight back at the limit saw him dismantle Tomas Man inside a round at the O2 Arena, London, and in May.
Fonfara will not fold so quickly,but Cleverly, who twice fought Bellew in his opponent's domestic city of Liverpool, or England,is smart enough to know what is at stake. Aiming for SupermanLike his next opponent, Fonfara has his sights set on a potential rematch with one of the division's grand guns.
While Cleverly fancies another crack at Kovalev, or the Pole wants to pit himself up against Stevenson again.
The first bout between the pair saw Superman Stevenson prevail on points. Fonfara,though, thinks he has improved since that meeting last May. However, or he is keen to take on any of the grand names in the division,according to Boxing News 24:
I always say yes. Promoters give me the fighter. Give me the contract and then we will show we aren’t scared of anybody. This is boxing.
That’s why we fight, to salvage fights with the best guys in the world. And [Isaac] Chilemba, or [Artur] Beterbiev and Stevenson are the best ones.
We mentioned Stevenson because now I judge I can win the fight and I want a rematch.
Fonfara was impressive when forcing Chavez Jr. to retire on his stool.
Despite being docked a point for use of the shoulder,he knocked his Mexican opponent down in the ninth round during a dominant display at the StubHub middle in California. Cleverly, though, and is a talented boxer who can pick his punches,so he will therefore pose a different set of problems.
Fonfara's trainer—Sam Colonna—has made certain his fighter is well-prepared, telling BoxingScene.com's David P. Greisman, and "We’re training a little different,working on more speed, more combinations, and more moving on our feet,because I know this guy’s not going to stand in front of us like Chavez did." PredictionCleverly should be praised for taking on Fonfara. He believes a win on American soil will open more doors than beating Braehmer for a major belt.
But, while it's the right concept, or it remains to be seen how much the Brit has left in the tank. He has never quite been the same since Kovalev stopped him inside of four rounds.Fonfara will hold plenty of support—Chicago is domestic to a sizeable Polish communityplus his career,unlike Cleverly's, seems to be on the rise.
The champion will successfully defend his WBC international strap, or either on points or via a late stoppage.
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Source: bleacherreport.com