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NATHAN CLEVERLY NEXT JOE CALZAGHE
NATHAN CLEVERLY wants to be the next Joe Calzaghe.
And Nathan Cleverly sees winning the European light-heavyweight title on Saturday as a major step towards matching the feats of Welsh legend Joe Calzaghe.
Two years ago, boxing boffin Cleverly, who is studying for a maths degree at Cardiff University, was known only for being a sparring partner of Calzaghe.
But unbeaten Cleverly, 22, left trainer Enzo Calzaghe – Joe’s dad – in 2008 and has since made rapid progress, winning British and Commonwealth titles.
Shot
When Calzaghe split with Frank Warren, Cleverly chose to go with the promoter rather than stick with the Calzaghes.
Cleverly insists he made the right decision and he hopes beating Italian Antonio Brancalion at Wembley for the vacant European crown will set up a world title shot this year.
But Cleverly insists there is no rift with Calzaghe, the ex-world super-middleweight champion who reigned for more than ten years before retiring a year ago.
He said: “I’m comfortable with the comparisons with Joe. He was a great fighter and it’s nice to be compared to such a good champion. But I’m out to be my own name and leave my own legacy.
“I helped Joe for his fights with Mikkel Kessler and Bernard Hopkins and, overall, I probably sparred over 200 rounds with him.
Speed
“It was tough sparring because he was the best in the world at his weight. But it set me up a nice foundation and it’s starting to show in my style and the way I fight with fast hands. I helped Joe a lot because of my speed.
“We’re not in contact on a regular basis but Joe doesn’t live far away so we bump into each other.
“It’s a shame that we’ve lost some of the contact but I had to choose what was best for my career.
“I stayed loyal to my promoter Frank Warren and the rewards are coming now. I’ve picked up the Commonwealth and British titles and we hope to go on to bigger and better things together now.
“I last spoke to Joe just after New Year, when I saw him out in town. He wished me all the best for the European title. There were no sour grapes, it was good to see him.
“It has all happened so quickly for me. I’ve been able to keep the momentum going. All my last five fights have been title fights and I’ve stopped all of them.
“If I can keep pulling out performances like that it will set up a nice platform to go on to world title level.”
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