Three years ago, the then both undefeated Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew fought each other in an action-packed and razor-thin fight at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, England. After twelve grueling rounds, Cleverly managed to keep his WBO light-heavyweight title with a controversial twelve-round majority decision victory.
Saturday night, the long-awaited rematch will finally happen. The fight that is billed as ‘Repeat or Revenge’ will take place at the same venue as the first fight and will be broadcast live on Sky Box Office [Sky’s PPV channel] in the United Kingdom. In the United States AWE has picked up the fight.
For both fighters a lot have changed in the last three years. After a few more defenses of his WBO title against questionable opposition, Cleverly was demolished in four rounds by Sergey Kovalev in August last year.
Meanwhile, frustrated because he didn’t get the chance to avenge his only loss, Bellew decided to leave Frank Warren and joined Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Sport. After wins over Edison Miranda and Isaac Chilemba, Bellew got his second title shot in November last year. In a fight in which Bellew was completely outclassed, he was stopped in the sixth round by Adonis Stevenson.
Earlier this year, Cleverly made the same promotional move that Bellew made two years ago. And with both fighters now campaigning in the cruiserweight division, the rematch became inevitable.
The fight is expected to be just as competitive and entertaining as their first encounter. The bookmakers in the United Kingdom see the fight as dead-even.
Unlike the first fight, ‘Repeat or Revenge’ will not be for a world title. But that doesn’t mean that this rematch is lacking any interest from the fans. The Echo Arena sold out within 48 hours after the tickets went on sale and the rematch is expected to be a major success in terms of PPV buys.
The biggest reason for the expected success is that Cleverly-Bellew will be supported by an absolute stacked undercard.
In the co-main event, ‘Saint’ George Groves will continue his comeback, after suffering two knockout defeats at the hands Carl Froch, against 26-year old Denis Douglin (17-3, 10 KOs). Groves, who holds a record of 20-2 with 15 KOs, is expected to make quick work of his American opponent.
On the undercard, Scott Quigg (29-0, 22 KO’s) and Jamie McDonnell (24-2-1, 11 KOs) will both defend their versions of the infamous WBA ‘regular’ world title against inferior opposition. Quigg will battle Japanese Hidenori Otake (22-1-3, 9 KO’s) for the super bantamweight title, while Javier Nicolas Chacon (20-2, 5 KO’s) will challenge McDonnell for his bantamweight title.
Also on the undercard, James DeGale (19-1, 13 KOs) will return against tough Mexican Marco Antonio Periban (20-2-1, 13 KOs). DeGale, who won the gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, suffered his only defeat in his 11th professional fight in a close and controversial twelve round decision loss to George Groves.
Since then, DeGale has won nine fights straight and became the number one contender for Carl Froch’s IBF super middleweight title by defeating Brandon Gonzales in four rounds in an eliminator earlier this year. Awaiting his shot at the world title, the 28-year old fighter From London, England decided to stay busy.
But Periban is not your usual stay busy type of opponent. In what is expected to be the most interesting fight on the undercard, the 30-year old Mexican is likely going to give DeGale all he can handle. Besides Groves, this will arguably be DeGale’s best opponent so far in his professional career.
‘Repeat or Revenge’ will also showcase several future stars. Liverpool’s own Callum Smith (14-0, 11 KOs) will receive his toughest test in his professional career so far against former world title challenger Nikola Sjekloca (28-2, KOs).
Sjekloca is a durable opponent who went twelve rounds with both Arthur Abraham and Sakio Bika. It would be a massive statement if Smith manages to be the first man to stop the 36-year old fighter from Montenegro.
Later that night, we will see the return of probably the biggest prospect in the world of boxing today. In a ten-round heavyweight fight, Anthony Joshua (9-0, 9 KOs) will meet veteran Michael Sprott (42-22, 17 KOs) in an all-British battle.
Joshua, who captured gold at the 2012 Olympic Games in the super heavyweight division, has knocked out all his opponents in the first three rounds. Sprott isn’t expected to take the 25-year old Joshua past those three rounds. The 36-year old fighter has been knocked out twelve times in his career so far.
19-year old German prospect Vincent Feigenbutz (16-1, 15 KOs) will also get his chance to shine on the big stage. Feigenbutz, who just like Groves is promoted by German promotor Sauerland, will fight last-minute replacement Oleg Fedotovs (18-17, 12 KOs).
The broadcast on Sky Box Office will start at 6PM UK time.
