Cleverley sets sights on world title

Following on from his 5th round stoppage of Italian Antonio Brancalion for the vacant European light heavyweight title, Wales’ Nathan Cleverly has promised to capture a world title.

Cleverly was excited to have picked up the European belt and gave a frank assessment of his performance claiming:

“Brancalion never committed and I had a plan going into the fight.  With the British fighters like McIntosh and Oakey they come and rough you, they’re not classy they just like a brawl and that’s where I use my combinations.

“This guy stood off and had a Russian style so I picked the shots and it was a comfortable night.  I never picked up the pace as I didn’t have to and I just counter punched him.”

The performance capped a remarkable 18 months for Cleverly since picking up the commonwealth title from Tony Oakley. In the 6 following fights, Cleverly has picked up the British title and won ever fight inside the distance.

And its this maturing that makes the mathematics undergraduate feel that he can pick up a world title sooner rather than later,

“Every title I pick up a title I get that ecstatic feeling and I’ve done it the hard way picking up all the traditional belts.  I’ve gone the old fashioned route and you get more respect that way, I will win a world title after I graduate in the summer if [promoter] Frank [Warren] thinks I am ready.  I know I can l step up to that level and I promise I’ll take that world title.”

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