Trouble for Cleverly vs Bellew: Bellew Overweight, Fight Could Be Off

by Scott Christ on May 19, 2011 3:18 PM EDT in Boxing News Analysis

Nathan Cleverly can't catch a break this week. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)

Reports from BBC radio are stating that late-notice opponent Tony Bellew cannot make the 175-pound light heavyweight limit by tomorrow's weigh-in, and as such the retooled "This Is It" Sky Box Office event could once again be facing a need for a substitute main eventer.

Nathan Cleverly was originally supposed to face Juergen Braehmer for Braehmer's WBO trinket, but Braehmer pulled his usual and backed out of the fight on Wednesday. Cleverly press rival Tony Bellew was given the spot, and that resulted in a cracking press conference battle between the two earlier today, but now we're here.

There appear to be two options:

Making this a non-title fight and doing a 10-rounder.
Finding yet another replacement opponent, which is going to be nearly impossible as far as getting a quality challenger in goes.

Honestly, I'd prefer they just go with the first option. Cleverly vs Bellew now has some heat behind it and is something that people, myself included, want to see. Cleverly is the heavy favorite as Bellew is quite limited in the ring, but Bellew has brass and will come to fight. And there's just no way they can find another opponent who isn't a bit of a stinker on one day's notice. Just no way.

At least the James DeGale vs George Groves fight is still full steam ahead, but when you think of the last few Sky Box Office shows, it's getting pretty rough. They had the Haye vs Harrison debacle in November, then a massively retooled and ultimately highly disappointing "Gr8 Britan vs The World" showcase in December. Last month they pulled the plug on Amir Khan vs Paul McCloskey, which wound up on Premier Sports. And now we have this. Part of me says that Frank Warren should well have known better than to get involved with Braehmer in the first place, but what can you do?

I really do hope they just stick with the fight and make it non-title, but we'll see.

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Comments

He’s fighting Aleksy Kuziemski.

by Bajingo on May 19, 2011 3:45 PM EDT reply actions

Yes, I found the same info.

by DrHenrik on May 19, 2011 3:52 PM EDT up reply actions

Never heard of him

I’ll have to check Boxrec but this is now looking like one stinky-assed PPV.

by Matt Mosley on May 19, 2011 3:59 PM EDT up reply actions

ugh

Bad Left Hook
"To the town of Agua Fria rode a stranger one fine day..."

by Scott Christ on May 19, 2011 4:37 PM EDT up reply actions

Me neither

All I know is that he`s definitley not a puncher. And that he`s fighting for Universum Boxing Promotions, as does Braehmer.

by DrHenrik on May 19, 2011 4:11 PM EDT reply actions

Uhh.

I keep on messing up the reply-function when answering to a posting at the bottom of the page.

by DrHenrik on May 19, 2011 4:13 PM EDT up reply actions

I wonder if Cleverly vs Bellew will be saved for further down the line especially after the heated press conference getting alot of attention, though I can see Bellew losing before that happens (even if he keeps his date with Ovil Mckenzie).

Could be another case of Witter/Hatton & Froch/Calzaghe though Bellew stands out as the only one not world class

by Nonpariel Barry Punchbag on May 19, 2011 4:26 PM EDT reply actions

Well if it's not Bellew...

…then he can fight him next with a proper build-up.

by strike4A on May 19, 2011 4:32 PM EDT reply actions

Bit gutted by all of this.

I’m still very excited to be seeing the Groves-DeGale fight, but the Cleverly disaster has left a nasty taste in the mouth. At least he’ll be fighting, but this must have been immensely tough for Nathan.

"Occasionally, there is a boxing match that, in its demonstration of skill, courage, intelligence, hope, seems to redeem the sport - almost. Perhaps boxing has always been a sport in crisis, a sport of crisis."

by Oli Goldstein on May 19, 2011 4:36 PM EDT via mobile reply actions