The ultra-competitive British scene has given birth to some of the more popular and successful boxers on the world stage in recent years but with Joe Calzaghe calling it quits recently and Ricky Hatton possibly nearing the end of his incredible career, a new pack of British fighters hope to replace these icons.

While David Haye is the most successful of the 'new breed', there is one light heavyweight in particular who could be ready to move above domestic level: Nathan Cleverly.

A few days shy of his 22nd birthday, the Welshman stands atop the 12 stone 5 division in Britain, firmly in control after defeating Tony Oakey for the Commonwealth crown last October as British Champion Dean Francis has expressing the desire to move up to cruiserweight and Clinton Woods is once again in position to challenge for the IBF title at the tail end of his own career.

Friday night at the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon, England was a good case in point as Cleverly made the second defence of his Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title against Kenyan slugger Samson Onyango in what would turn out to be another masterful performance from the young Cefn Fforest man.

A smiling Cleverly entered the ring wearing a blue bandana with the name ʽClevʼ printed on it and continued to grin while stood in the ring!

Admitting heʼd be ʽdisappointed not to get a stoppageʼ, Cleverly gets straight to work, whipping out the straight left and right. He lands two snappy straight rights in succession to the face of Onyango in the first minute of the round. More...

On Saturday night at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, Amir Khan successfully defended his Commonwealth Lightweight title by stopping tough Irish-Mancunian Michael Gomez, in round five of a grueling contest.

But it was never going to be an ‘easy’ fight for Khan and Gomez clearly ‘rattled’ the Bolton man, who suffered a knockdown following a left hook from Gomez in round two. Despite being knocked down himself in round one, big-hearted Gomez continued to walk forward in his usual ‘bullish’ manner.

And in true ‘Rocky’ style - stood fast as he took a number of punches from the Champion, I think he would have stood there all night if the referee hadn’t stopped it - such is the ‘fighting-never give-up’ attitude of Gomez.

Afterward, a calm and thoughtful Gomez admitted to feeling a bit ‘sluggish’ and was disappointed with his performance, but gave huge credit to Khan - who Gomez said had ‘great hand-speed’ but felt that Amir was a ‘vulnerable’ fighter.

That seems the general feeling of those close to, and not so close, to Khan, that he still had things to learn before going for a world-title. More...

Saturday night at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, former British and WBU Super Feather Champ Michael Gomez gave Commonwealth Lightweight titlist Amir Khan a tremendous fight before being controversially stopped in the fifth round of a thrilling contest.

Gomez came out in his characteristically aggressive manner, surging forward behind the jab and forcing Khan onto the backfoot immediately. Khan attempted to pick off his opponent but Gomez bobbed and weaved his way inside, lashing the Bolton starlet to the body whenever close enough to do so.

Khan showed his quality early as well, dumping the Manchester hard man on the seat of his pants at the end of a multi-punch combination to the head at close quarters but Gomez was up at once, resuming his pressure as if the knockdown never happened.

The second frame saw Gomez cutting off the ring, forcing Khan to throw more punches in an attempt to stem the tide. As Gomez gained ground, he backed Khan onto the ropes and Amir let loose a blindingly fast flurry but the man born Michael Armstrong walked through it and unleashed a right hook, left hook combination to the head that made Khan go down on his knees from the force. More...

**With Slideshow**

© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Yesterday, at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England, Amir Khan, 17-0 (13), came face-to-face with Michael Gomez, 35-8 (24), as they weighed in ahead of their Commonwealth Lightweight title contest tonight at the NIA.

First up was the challenger Gomez, a former British and WBU Super Featherweight Champion, who immediately stripped naked before stepping on to the scales. He neednʼt have worried as he made the weight at 9 stone 8 lb (134 lb).

Next up was the Champion, Khan, who - looking in fantastic physical condition - calmly took to the scales and weighed in half a pound under the limit. Both men were ʼtight-lippedʼ as they faced each other for the obligatory press photograph.

Khan remained cool and expressionless while Gomez couldnʼt suppress the ʽglintʼ in his eye and the wry smile that sneaked on to his lips in the closing seconds. More...