NATHAN Cleverly is using close friend Joe Calzaghe’s spectacular victory over Jeff Lacy to inspire him to success in his own world title showdown on Saturday.
The 24-year-old from Cefn Fforest is on the verge of boxing immortality as he faces explosive German Juergen Braehmer for the WBO world light-heavyweight crown.
Should he triumph at London’s 02 Arena, he will enter the pantheon of great Welsh boxers that includes former stablemate Calzaghe as well as other legends Jimmy Wilde, Jim Driscoll and Howard Winstone.
Cleverely was close to the action when Newbridge’s WBO super middleweight champion Calzaghe beat America’s IBF title-holder Lacy in Manchester in 2006.
The current WBO interim champion, Cleverly has long been thought of as Calzaghe’s natural successor.
And he intends to emulate him and his triumph five years ago when Calzaghe annihilated America’s coming force with a superb displays to unify the world super-middleweight titles. “I was ringside for Calzaghe-Lacy. It was an evening when Joe made the world sit up and take notice of him. I’ll do the same against Braehmer,” Cleverly said.
This weekend’s clash is the moment the unbeaten Cleverly has been waiting for all his life.
“Ricky Hatton fought Kostya Tyszu, Joe beat Lacy, this is a similar kind of fight, he said.
“My whole career has been building towards this moment, and I’m ready to take it with both hands.
“Winning a world title has always been my dream, ever since I was 10 or 11 years old.
“To face an established world champion, on a massive night of boxing, is what I’ve always wanted.
“I’m so fired up for this fight and I believe that it’s my time.”
Cleverly’s fight is the main event on a card containing another potential humdinger in the grudge match between bitter rivals James DeGale and George Groves.
And promoter Frank Warren will look to provide Cleverly the huge fights befitting his new status if he emerges victorious against his German opponent.
Warren says he will be watching Jean Pascal’s WBC World light-heavyweight title showdown with Bernard Hopkins, which also takes place on Saturday night, with interest.
He said he’s keen on matching Cleverly with the winner – and other top names such as Chad Dawson and Tavoris Cloud.
“I got the Hopkins fight for Joe Calzaghe, and I would love to bring him over to face Wales’ new star, Nathan Cleverly,” said Warren.
“This light-heavyweight division is red hot at the moment.
“You’ve got quality fighters holding the belts, and the world’s top five is dominated by Americans.
“This really is a massive opportunity for Cleverly, but he’s got Braehmer to deal with first on Saturday night which is a tough, hard, fight for him.
“The fight is going out live on EPIX in the States (a premium American television channel) as well, so he’s got a massive platform on which to make a huge statement.”
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