Former WBO light-heavyweight titlist Nathan Cleverly (29-2, 15 KO’s) will face the hard-hitting Andrzej Fonfara (27-3, 16 KO’s) in October.
Prior to his first-round TKO of Tomas Man in May after spending 2014 at the cruiserweight division, Cleverly called out WBA World light-heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer for a fight.
If he can get past Fonfara, his dreams could come true. Fonfara is ranked No. 3 by the WBA, and is coming off a one-sided drubbing of former middleweight titlist Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that there were several offers for Cleverly, but they took the time to choose the right one.
“We have had lots of big fight offers come in for Nathan over the past few months and we have taken our time to choose the right one,” he said.
“The Juergen Braehmer fight was one we were very close to taking, but just felt that after his big win against Chavez, Fonfara was the perfect fight on the world stage.
“We are working with his team on the date expected to be in October and we will release news shortly.”
For a fighter like Fonfara, he has underrated power. His straight right hand dropped Adonis Stevenson in their clash a year ago, and although Stevenson was in control of the majority of the bout, Fonfara proved he was a fighter.
After his performance against Chavez, Fonfara is mentally in a better place. I don’t think you can say the same about Cleverly.
His conclusive victory over Man was expected, but who is Tomas Man exactly?
The Czech fighter has 23 fights under his belt; five have come against the same guy in Roman Vanicky, where he holds a 4-1 record, with two KO’s in the rivalry. But here’s the catch, Vanicky has an incredible record of 20-38-2, with 10 KO’s.
After reading that, do you think Cleverly has earned his shot at a world title, or is he just playing?
Cleverly hasn’t faced any legitimate competition, with the exception of Tony Bellew, who he has lost to. Bellew was also recovering from a sixth-round TKO defeat to Adonis Stevenson in November 2013 and was still dangerous fights against Brudov and Dos Santos.
I think Fonfara is going to stop Cleverly inside the fifth round. The Pole is going to challenge him mentally, physically, and he won’t be able to take it.
Fonfara is the type of guy that is good at walking a guy down; getting you into a vulnerable spot on the ropes, and exploding. Cleverly has proven that he caves under that type of pressure, as seen against “Krusher” Sergey Kovalev.
If Cleverly stays on the outside and tries to jab his way through rounds; it may work, but the question is for how long.
Even against Bellew, Cleverly found himself with his back against the ropes and getting roughed up when he let his man take advantage on the inside.
