GWENT'S Nathan Cleverly stopped Poland's Aleksy Kuziemski in round four to retain his newly acquired WBO world light-heavyweight title at the O2 Arena.

Cleverly (now 22-0), from Cefn Fforest, had been awarded the belt earlier this week when his initial opponent - defending champion Juergen Braehmer - pulled out because of injury.

Then stand-in Tony Bellew failed to make weight on Thursday, leaving Kuziemski (now 21-3) to step into the breach at short notice.

Cleverly was clearly out to take the week's frustrations out on his latest opponent in front of a big crowd on the 'This Is It' card at the 02 Arena.

And he started fast, showcasing his fast hands and sharp combinations in the first round.

By the end of the second there was blood coming from the nose of Kuziemski, but the Pole was at least committed making a fight of it.

And he even shook Cleverly briefly with a lovely left hook on the counter in the third, after which the Welshman looked wobbly for a few seconds.

But by the end of the session Nathan was back on top, and he carried that dominance into the fourth.

A cut opened by the left eye of Kuziemski and almost immediately referee Mark Nelson took a left and waved the fight off to leave Cleverly celebrating a successful first title defence.