Nathan Cleverly makes his power felt against Antonio Brancalion

WBO light-heavyweight number-one contender Nathan Cleverly has had his punching ability questioned by the current champion, Juergen Braehmer.

Unbeaten European champion Cleverly expects a shot at the world crown in London in December after his impressive 10th-round stoppage of Karo Murat.

"I thought Murat was very weak, he had no chance," said Braehmer.

"Cleverly landed loads of punches, but without any real venom. It will not, I can assure you, be so easy against me."

Saturday's victory over previously unbeaten Murat in Birmingham was billed as an official eliminator for the WBO belt.

BEN DIRS BLOG Cleverly demonstrated he possesses the heart, stamina and chin to thrive at world level

But Welshman Cleverly, 23, could be crowned champion outside the ring if Braehmer fails in his appeal against a 16-month prison sentence for assault and insulting behaviour.

Cefn Fforest man Cleverly is now unbeaten in 20 fights, with 10 finishing inside the distance, as he bids to become Wales' 11th world champion.

Braehmer with the WBO light-heavyweight belt that Cleverly covets

German southpaw Braehmer, 31, has won 36 and lost two of his fights, scoring 29 knock outs, in an 11-year professional career.

His first defeat was a 12-round points loss to former Joe Calzaghe victim Mario Veit in 2006, a loss he avenged with a fourth-round knock-out the following year.

Hugo Hernan Garay then claimed a points win over Braehmer in a 2008 challenge for the WBA light-heavyweight title.

He bounced back with a December 2009 victory over Dmitry Sukhotsky to win the WBO crown, a belt he has defended once, a fifth-round stoppage of Mariano Nicolas Plotinsky in April.

Braehmer has never fought outside his native Germany, but Cleverly's promoter Frank Warren plans to bring him to London's Excel Arena on 11 December - if the champion stays out of prison.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version