Cleverly to become top of the class at light-heavyweight

Cleverly to become top of the class at light-heavyweight.

Boxing academic Nathan Cleverly aims to further prove his fistic credentials by leaping up a division to light-heavyweight.

The 21 year old, who is a maths undergraduate at Cardiff University, feels that he can still make the super-middleweight divison’s 12 stone limit but believes he has more to offer at 12 stone 7Ibs.

“I’ve been experimenting between the weights and I just feel that I’ve got more energy at light-heavy,” He said. “I feel I can train better when I’ve got a bit more weight on. I feel stronger in general and my punches feel a bit more snappy as well.

“Obviously I’m gonna be fighting bigger men but if I can take my speed up then it’ll be no problem.”

It also appears that this new weight class will allow ‘The Clever Boy’ to showcase his skills against a higher level of opposition, with a possible fight against reigning British and Commonwealth champion Dean Francis being muted for October.

“It’s yet to be confirmed, but Francis is on the cards.” Admitted Cleverly. “It’s the fight my mind is set on at the moment.

“He [Francis] is a dangerous fighter. He’s very experienced and there’s no doubt it’ll be the fight of my life.

“I know that he’s a massive puncher but my chin has been tested before. I’ve taken some big shots in sparring and I know that my chin isn’t a problem. Obviously I don’t want to get hit if I can avoid it but I’m not afraid of his power going into the ring.

He added: “I’ll have more youth about me. It’s my time now to take over. It’s time to have a younger athlete in the picture.”

Having tasted the delights of Las Vegas back in April, when he fought on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe’s clash with Bernard Hopkins, Cleverly is excited about stepping into the championship class but knows that he is still a few years away from headlining in Sin City.

“Hopefully I can stake my own claim to fight out there in the future. That’s another dream to achieve. I’ve had a taste of it now and it would be brilliant to go back there but when I beat Francis I think I’ll hang around the British scene for a couple of years and defend the titles.

“I think it would be too quick to jump into the world scene [Straight after the Francis fight]. Obviously if a chance came up I’d love to take it but I don’t think I’ll be ready for it. Two years at British level will develop me into a world beater. Also, defending the titles will allow me to keep the Lonsdale belt, which is another target of mine.”

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