- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Facing Kovalev: Cleverly
- Updated: November 18, 2016
Ahead of Sergey Kovalev’s world light-heavyweight title defence against Andre Ward, we asked Nathan Cleverly to give an insight into what it is like to face the fearsome Russian.
Having reigned at super-middleweight, Ward has moved up a division to test his skills against the destructive fists of WBO, WBA ‘super’ and IBF champion Kovalev at Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena in a blockbuster showdown live on Sky Sports.
Cleverly lost his WBO world title and unbeaten record when he was stopped in the fourth round by Kovalev in 2013 and the Welsh star has revealed his experience of sharing a ring with ‘Krusher’.
What was your plan to beat Kovalev?
My game plan was to keep it tight. I knew he was a big puncher, so I wanted to block a lot of shots and let him punch himself out, then I would capitalise on that in the second half of the fight. But it was easier said than done and he found a cracking right hand early on that rattled me and I couldn’t recover.
Is he simply just a power puncher then?
No. Of course his punching power is very good, but his all-round boxing ability is underrated. He is very strong and he has world-class …
