Former WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly suffered his first professional loss, along with it he lost his title when he was stopped by Sergey Kovalev the rising star from Russia. The fight lived up to the hype, this was Kovalev’s toughest test and biggest step up in competition against a world champion with size and reach advantages. He pulled through and proved everyone that he isn’t just another flash in the pan who crumbled under the lights, he fought Cleverly in his hometown of Cardiff, Wales and stopped him in four rounds.
After his stunning defeat of Nathan Cleverly, the doors of opportunity are wide open for him especially given his crowd pleasing ferocious style. The most logical opponent for him would be a unification bout with Bernard Hopkins should he get by Karo Murat in October. Hopkins would be the clear favorite in the fight but Kovalev presents Hopkins with a dangerous threat of determination, speed, power, and relentlessness that he hasn’t faced in his recent opposition.
HBO Boxing After Dark will repeat and replay the tape delay broadcast of Nathan Cleverly vs. Sergey Kovalev as part of the undercard of the Daniel Geale vs. Darren Barker live event on HBO Aug 17 at 9:45 PM ET/PT on HBO.
