Cleverly wants Lonsdale belt outright

Have to agree with all of that really, although if Woods don't retire it would be a great step up for Nathan after winning his British title outright.

The best thing to do for Cleverly is get him to defend the title every 6 weeks as no British fighter out there who is ready for fighting for a title will last more than 5 or 6 rounds if that. This will mean within only a few months Cleverly will be ready for a good step up.

 

Maybe rather than beating lesser oppo to win a Lonsdale, he could get a fight abroad, Germany or in the States perhaps?

 

This is what all Brit fighters in clev's position (limited domestic oposition) should be doing, Frankie W would never allow it though.

 

To me, clearing up at domestic level is slightly overrated.

There is a purpose to it if there is suitable worthwhile opposition that are.....

A. Going to enhance your resume.

B. Give you a test - and therefore improve you.

C. Of a similar age and standing.

Simply fighting British guys because they are British is silly. May as well hop on the plane to Germany and get some good sparring or fights, rather than bull**** stoppages against overmatched oppo.

That may be a contradiction from my earlier post on the first page, but I guess each scenario (by that I mean fighter) needs to be treated in isolation.

There have been many domestic fights that we have missed that would most likely have been tremendous affairs, but equally, there have been plenty of supposed title level fights that have been nothing more than ridiculous.

Cleverly vs Boyle
Brook vs Elwell

and so on.

 

I agree that the traditional route is ovverrated, mainly as the commonwealth title is **** and the domestic scene is often domestic scene is sometimes questionable, as it is at 175. However Cleverley is young and would benefit from this route, guys who did NOT benefit and shouldve made the jump to world level sooner inc Howard Eastman, Junior Witter, Carl Froch and so on.

 

Don't get me wrong, I prefer guys going the 'proper way' - i.e. Area > British > European rather than the inter-alphabetty > Commonwealth > WBU/WBO path that is used so often.

But I wouldn't force a guy down the domestic scene if it wasn't going to benefit him - Craig McEwan could have decent fights with Barker and Macklin, but after that....... nothing. He has gone to the States to further his career.... could go there or Germany.

I wouldn't hold guys back needlessly either. Hatton was held back something stupid, almost to the point of him being past his best by the time he fought at world level, Herol Graham was a similar case in point (Kalambay was world class though), Moore is probably the most recent guy who should have been at Euro level two years ago rather than now - but at least he is moving now.

 

Hatton was held back for slightly different reasons, he was packin out the MEN fighting cheap imports for the WBU title, I also dont think Warren had faith in him at the top level. He shouldve been fighting the top 15 guys long before he did, fights against Stewart and Oliveira came way too late.

 

I guess you are right about that. There was serious money to be made for the pair of them until Hatton got sick of those whispers that he wasn't really up for it.

He did beat a few top 15 guys though..... Phillips, Tackie and Krivalopov were all around about the top 10 or so. Magee was decent and so on.

It's just the bull**** fights like Stephen Smith, John Bailey and Dennis Pedersen that haters tend to focus on, and rightly so in many ways.

(Not calling you a hater BTW).