Cleverly needs time to recover. I think he will be back and he should not retire. Hell, he only lost to the best light heavyweight in the world today.............
once Gun Shy, there is NO return, Clev didn't fancy it, he didn't like it, he can never fix that. He's not tough enough. the mind set is not there!
Whatever he decides, it's his call. Most who post on these threads have never been in the ring and are ignorant when it comes to what's involved - the dedication, risks, etc. Taking shots to the head is bad for your health and at a certain point every fighter has to sit down and contemplate if it's worth continuing. As for the fight, he was all wrong from the start. His ring entrance was the first sign that his head wasn't right - he was far too keyed up and expended too much energy mugging for the crowd. Clearly his adrenalin had got the better of him. His gameplan was either atrocious or went out the window as soon as the bell went. He couldn't make up his mind whether he should box or fight Kovalev and ended up doing neither effectively. He definitely needs to change trainers. No disrespect to his old man, but he needs new ideas and maybe some time in the States wouldn't go amiss at this point. Good luck to him.
Your right Veritas.# Too many bums who've achieved nothing in the sport talking like the game is easy. If he feels he has achieved as much as he can, then why stick around and get beaten up? Boxing at the time of sport where you can nicely drift off into retirement. Id like to see him drop down to super middleweight if he can make it, there would be some winnable fights and some nice paydays there for him.
I saw the stoppage of Cleverley by Kovalev. Whilst I am not a fan of Cleverley the one thing I will say is that if Cleverley has to fight Kovalev again then his future is not in boxing. Good luck to him but I cannot see a path to victory for him against Kovalev. Perhaps he can do something with the other champions.
He'll definitely be back. His pride's hurt that's all. Nathaniel's got plenty to be proud of. Whatever his haters say, he DID fight the best eventually, and in a fight everyone was up for. Just the kind of fight the fans want, in fact, but which are all to rare, and one which he himself asked for, almost certainly against the wishes of his self interested promoter. I'm not welsh or a fanboy (I do like a bit of Basshunter though, well who doesnt?), just struggle to understand the hatred (I know some is from ignorant yankees hating on anything 'Brit' related lol). All boxers are deluded, a bit arrogant, and think they're the best in the world, it's a job requirement!