Boxing Preview: Nathan Cleverly vs. Courtney Fry

Tonight, Nathan Cleverly defends his British and Commonwealth Light Heavyweight titles against Courtney Fry at York Hall in London’s Bethnal Green.

This should be a run of the mill defense for Cleverly, who recently just got pipped to the post by British welter titlist Kell Brook for the Boxing Writer’s Young Boxer of the Year award, where apparently it was the closest ballot in the award’s 57 year history.

Brook has to get past former beltholder Michael Jennings next month, no easy task.

The same thing cannot be said for Cleverly, who has an easier job this Friday. The Welshman’s opponent Courtney Fry, now at 13-2 (5), does not have a wealth of experience.

The only recognisable name Fry has been in with is former Commonwealth, British and WBU Light Heavyweight champion Tony Oakey, and that was three rounds in February of this year in a Prizefighter tournament, albeit in the semi-final…and Fry lost.

Other than that, some of the keener fans may remember Ovill Mackenzie winning the last cruiserweight Prizefighter tournament, more because of the lack of talent in that particular round robin, but Fry has gone 1-1 with him in two three rounders.

So the pedigree is not there and neither is the experience. Cleverly 17-0 (7), started his pro career in July, 2005 in the Newbridge Camp, under Enzo Calzaghe, and has fought some good opposition.

In October, 2006, Cleverly handed current British Super Middleweight champion Tony Quigley his first and only defeat, stopping him in the 5th of a scheduled six rounder.

A year later, he fought tough nut Joey Vegas, and after a drawn out battle, Cleverly got the decision over eight rounds.

Cleverly’s inclusion on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe vs Bernard Hopkins in Vegas, gave him the experience of having fought abroad, and it obviously did not faze him.

In September, 2008, Cleverly left the Calzaghe gym and moved to his father’s gym, and his next opponent was none other than Tony Oakey.

This wasn’t just a three round Prizefight contest, this was for the vacant Commonwealth title and Cleverly totally outboxed and outworked Oakey over twelve rounds.

Following that, Cleverly defended his belt three times, meeting Douglas Otieno, who came in with a record of 18-1. Cleverly stopped him in four rounds, and the next two defences were stopped even sooner.

Next came the vacant British title and Cleverly faced English Champion Danny Macintosh, who tasted the canvas four times before the ref stopped it in the seventh round.

So as you can see, this contest against Fry seems to be a fore-gone conclusion, in the respect that Cleverly has fought more and better opponents, he is undefeated, gone the distance before and can quite obviously bang.

He is shaping up to be the complete package and another stoppage looks on the cards this Friday, but surely bigger things lay in wait just down the road.