Will Nathan Cleverly Return As A Cruiserweight?

Recently it has been announced that the former WBO Light-Heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly will return to the ring on the 30th November at the Copper Box Arena at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park to challenge the Australian, Daniel Ammann, for the vacant Commonwealth Cruiserweight title.

The 26 year old Welshman, who has held the British, Commonwealth and European titles at the classical 12 stone 7lbs division, returns to the ring three months after losing his WBO Light Heavyweight title and his 26 fight unbeaten record to the big hitting Russian, Sergei Kovalev, at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff in August of this year.

There had been speculation that the Cefn Forest native, who also holds a Mathematics degree from the University of Cardiff, may have chosen to retire from the sport following the crushing loss against Kovalev, but it appears that wiser council has prevailed Cleverly’s cruiserweight debut against the 30 year old Ammann, who was born in Wagga, Wagga in New South Wales and now lives in Stockton in the same state in Australia, is a two time Australian champion at Cruiserweight.

Ammann brings with him to the ring a record that consists of 29 wins and 5 losses, of which 2 were by knockout.

The first came against the Russian Alexander Alekseev back in 2009, and the second against Brad Pitt [not the film star].
Ammann regained the Aussie belt to make four consecutive defences of the title, going the distance in three of them and knocking out the South African born Cruiserweight Pieter Cronje in the process.

The Commonwealth Cruiserweight championship belt has been lain vacant for over 28 months since the New Zealander Shane Cameron defeated Australian Dominic Vea by a 12th round technical knockout in Sydney back in July 2011.

Past winners have included former IBF Cruiserweight champion turned Sky Sports broadcaster Glenn McCrory, who held the title when the weight limit was at 13stone 8lbs between 1987 and 1988, when he fought Chisanda Mutti, Tee Jay and Lou Gent before going onto win the IBF Cruiserweight title, which the Cuban Hernandez now holds.

As for the fight between Cleverly and Ammann, it’s one that has many ingredients that makes an attractive match up.
Cleverly is the fighter who has boxed at the higher level and has in his 27 fight professional career been the full 12 rounds five times and has also been into the tenth round as well, abet at a lower weight category, in comparison to Ammann, who will be engaging in only his second 12 round professional contest in his 35 fight professional career.

The first time that the Australian has been in a 12 round contest was against Vea for the OPBF title, which is the equivalent of the European title, which Cleverly has fought for down at Light Heavyweight.

However, Ammann has been ten rounds 13 times in his at this weight, so will naturally feel more confident, despite being the natural at the weight.

Physically, Ammann will be the smaller man standing at only 5ft 11 and a half in comparison to Cleverly, who is 6ft 1 and a half.

Cleverly will also enter this contest with the greater reach advantage of 2 and a half inches over the Australian champion and will be looking to establish the jab and the straight hand against the Southpaw Ammann, in an attempt to muzzle the man they christen the Doberman and clinch his second Commonwealth title.

Cleverly will no doubt start the fight as the favourite due to his superior championship experience and the fact he has also been 12 rounds more often than Ammann.

But Ammann, who is the natural at the weight, will no doubt see an opportunity to push towards his World title shot in a competitive Cruiserweight division.

But this writer believes that Welsh eyes shall be smiling come fight night.