Nathan Cleverly helped to title by leaving Calzaghe gym
Calzaghe trained Cleverly from when he turned pro in 2005 to 2008
Nathan Cleverly's father and trainer, Vince, says leaving the Enzo Calzaghe gym was the making of the new European light-heavyweight champion.
"[His knock-out power] hadn't developed in his previous camp," he said.
The Cefn Fforest man, 22, impressed in Saturday's fifth-round stoppage of Antonio Brancalion for the vacant belt.
That was his sixth knock-out win in seven victories since leaving Calzaghe, under whose tutelage he won all his 12 fights but had just three stoppages.
In his last fight under former Ring Magazine trainer of the year Calzaghe in April 2008, Cleverly laboured to a points win over Antonio Baker.
At last he's been proved to have a fantastic right hand that he hadn't developed in his previous camp
Vince Cleverly on his son Nathan
The youngster had learnt his trade sparring with Enzo's son, world champion Joe who retired unbeaten last year, who he described as his "hero".
But Cleverly left to train at his father's gym at Church Place Amateur Boxing Club in Bargoed, south Wales.
In his next outing in October 2008, Cleverly impressed with a breakthrough points victory over hardened veteran Tony Oakey to claim the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title.
Six hugely impressive stoppage wins followed, with the youngster - who is due to complete a maths degree at Cardiff University this summer - picking up the British and then European titles.
"It's absolutely fantastic, we're living our dream since we've left the Calzaghe camp, it's going better and better," Vince Cleverly told BBC Sport Wales.
"Nathan has got more mature, but training has also been altered from the previous camp.
"I brought in another pad man to help me out with the pad work and to practice his knock-out shots.
"At last he's been proved to have a fantastic right hand that he hadn't developed in his previous camp. He always had good body shots. We've managed to get the best out of him.
"I think the proof [of the pudding] is in the eating, he's done the business, he's had seven fights [since leaving Calzaghe], six knock-outs.
"I don't think we can be doing much wrong at the present time. My job is to keep Nathan winning."
Cleverly, who will turn 23 on Wednesday, is only the seventh Welshman to win the British, Commonwealth and European titles.
As he prepares to take his final university exams in May, he plans to make a voluntary European defence in April or June.
His father then hopes that his son will follow Freddie Welsh as the only Welshman to win a world title on top of his three existing belts.
"[We're] in no rush to be honest, we'll probably look towards the end of the year or the beginning of 2011," said Cleverly senior.
"When Nathan's finished his university studies he can really concentrate on his form.
"There's a lot of improvement to be made, there's a lot more to come from Nathan Cleverly yet."
Cleverly is ranked 10th by Ring Magazine in its evaluation of the world's best light-heavyweights.
If we did go for a world title challenge, there's a guy named [Karo] Murat
Vince Cleverly
The major names in the division include Bernard Hopkins, Antonio Tarver, Glen Johnson and Chad Dawson.
The recognised world titles at the weight are held by Jean Pascal (WBC), Tavoris Cloud (IBF), Gabriel Campillo (WBA) and Juergen Braehmer (WBO).
"If we did go for a world title challenge, there's a guy named [Karo] Murat who's the WBO mandatory challenger at the present time, a German boxer," said Vince Cleverly.
"I spoke to [promoter] Frank [Warren] and that's the name they fancy at the moment if there was a world title shot."
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