WALES’ greatest ever boxer Joe Calzaghe believes the torch has been passed to Nathan Cleverly after the Cefn Fforest fighter became Wales’ 11th world champion fighter.
Newbridge’s Calzaghe who has known Cleverly since he was nine years old, is widely regarded as one of the true greats of British boxing, having remained undefeated in 46 fights and been a two-weight world champion, in addition to unifying the super middleweight division.
Cleverly cites Calzaghe as his inspiration for becoming a boxer and was formerly trained by Joe’s father Enzo.
Cleverly was awarded the WBO light heavyweight title yesterday morning after champion and scheduled opponent Juergen Braehmer pulled out with an eye injury.
Cleverly, a former British, Commonwealth and European champion will now defend his strap for the first time against Aleksy Kuziemski after original replacement Tony Bellew failed to make the weight last night.
And, despite the pre-fight chaos, Calzaghe intends to be ringside to support his friend tomorrow night.
“My main feeling on hearing the news is one of total and absolute pride, I am really, really proud of Nathan and he totally deserves this,” he said.
“I have never really doubted Nathan belonged at this level and as a training partner and sparring partner, it was obvious he would go far.
“Nathan first came to my old gym when he was nine and now he’s not only a world champion, but he’s done it quicker than me! I was 25 when I won a world title, Nathan is 24 and I believe the sky is the limit for him.”
Calzaghe has no time for the notion that winning the title outside of the ring diminishes the honour.
“Lennox Lewis was awarded his first world title and he didn’t do too badly did he? It’s not about winning the title anyway, it’s about keeping it,” he said.
“There are some absolutely brilliant fights out there for Nathan as a light heavyweight.”
Calzaghe, 39, now spreading his time between Blackwood and London and almost two years retired, is an infrequent training partner of Cleverly’s, joining him for the odd road run, but won’t return to boxing.
“I used to be the king of the gym when it came to road running, Nathan was the only one who could touch me,” he said. “But now when I go running with Nathan I feel my age, I struggle to keep up with him!
“He makes me feel old and even though I am really excited by his fight, have a real buzz and want him to succeed, I have no desire to get back in the ring whatsoever. If anything, seeing how hard he trains makes me think there is nothing I want to do less!”
Calzaghe is confident Cleverly will go on to bigger and better things. "I spent a long time chasing the big fights and trying to unify the division, but part of the problem for me was a lack of big name fighters out there,” he said.
“That’s no such problem for Nathan. There are brilliant fights to be made. There are the American guys, he could even fight a Bernard Hopkins, plenty of options and top names standing in the way of unifying the division.
“But then you look down one weight at the potential fights that could be all-British affairs. Carl Froch, James DeGale, there are so many options for Nathan. He has everything to be a top class world champion and I believe in him. People will say he’s following in my footsteps and I really hope he does.”
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