Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew / Piotr Wilczewski v James Degale

Round 9, and I felt that Cleverly is boxing very smart in there, letting Bellew throw shots and deflecting or dodging them well. Good footwork and movement, and some good counters to give clev the edge. 86-85 Clev

how the f does cleverly think he took the tenth????

Sorry armin, I'm seeing Bellew missing a little too much. He landed two big punches in that round, but the rest of it was Cleverly. My head says that was Cleverly's round, but I'll score it for Bellew as a good shot.

95-95

The eleventh was the first I gave to celeverly in about three or four rounds...

Cleverly easing away in the eleventh, Bellew look to be tired, and some body shots and uppercuts edging Cleverly ahead. 105-104

And I agree he's missing a lot, but I don't see much comin from cleverly he's dancing around with his arms down prior to the eleventh...

7 to 5 bellew with 12th going to cleverly just don't think he let his hands go enough, and should have done more of what he did in the 11th and 12th.

Last round definitely to Cleverly, Bellew barely found him at all, big hooks from Cleverly, then a lovely exchange of good shots from both in the last minute.

115-113 to Cleverly in my book, but he's the away fighter here. Could go either way, and a very good evening's boxing, or fighting as both fights ended up as.

Another MD!!!!

114-114; 116-113; 117-112 - And still champion....Nathan Cleverly.

Another UD pick goes badly wrong for me. Scores maybe a little bit generous to Cleverly, and Bellew did fade badly. Rematch. You ain't getting no rematch!

I had it a draw, Bellew did well, better than I thought he would.

117 stinks a bit, and I don't know I might have to watch it again but I just felt like cleverly wasn't doing enough, sure bellew was missing a lot but he was doing work. Have a feeling this is the sort of fight if it was a brit against a german on germany highway robbery would be screamed to high heaven. Good fights tho, and don't begrudge the decision but I feel like cleverly left to much in the tank in the middle rounds, hope tonights fights are good as well and thank god for the internet and streams.

Bellew's interview at the end of the fight has really changed my opinion of him. He actually comes across as being much less of a **** than he was in the build-up. Would love to see it again at some point down the line.

So many of the rounds were close, and I suppose there was no home advantage really to speak of in that result. Nice one Cleverly, and hopefully on to bigger and better.

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Originally Posted by superheavyrhun

Bellew's interview at the end of the fight has really changed my opinion of him. He actually comes across as being much less of a **** than he was in the build-up. Would love to see it again at some point down the line.

So many of the rounds were close, and I suppose there was no home advantage really to speak of in that result. Nice one Cleverly, and hopefully on to bigger and better.

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I think this is a case where the two genuinely despised each other prior to the fight but just gained each others respect, cause it was a grueling fight in spots. And yes a rematch would be nice nice at some point.

Excellent fight, scoring sucked, Cleverley probably deserved it by 1 round IMO.

I fancied Tony before the Fight, but thought Nathen Boxed well. Tonys a Great Lad and should feel proud of His effort, shows theres better things to come. Thanks to both Boys for a great Fight.

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Originally Posted by BIG H

Excellent fight, scoring sucked, Cleverley probably deserved it by 1 round IMO.

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There were so many close rounds, if a judge was big on boxing and low on aggression, then it probably went that way in a few of the rounds. Didn't have it that wide myself though. Give it 18 months when Bellew's development has caught up with his ambition, and it might be a very different story.

I had DeGale and Cleverly both winning 7-5, so fair results imo. Neither losing fighter had any complaints they both thought they had lost, so there is no controversy here despite being close fights.

I have to admit that before the fights I thought it was going to be easy fights for Cleverly and DeGale.
I think Degale looked crap in his fight. He was no where near as fast as usual and I hardly saw him throw a jab. He looked like he didnt train.
In the Cleverly fight it looked like Bellew had thoroughly improved from his last fight. It looked like all that training with Froch paid off. Good speed and power. I think he lost it by about a round but a great performance against a top ten fighter. They have him ranked 14th in the world on boxrec which it looks like he deserves.
I think he should fight either Zsolt Erdei or Karo Murat next.
As far as Cleverly goes I think he should stay away from Bhop or Dawson for the Mo and go for Beibut Shumenov. He needs to improve his technique before he takes on the top four in the devision because if he took them on now, he would lose easily.

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Originally Posted by Leighton

I have to admit that before the fights I thought it was going to be easy fights for Cleverly and DeGale.
I think Degale looked crap in his fight. He was no where near as fast as usual and I hardly saw him throw a jab. He looked like he didnt train.
In the Cleverly fight it looked like Bellew had thoroughly improved from his last fight. It looked like all that training with Froch paid off. Good speed and power. I think he lost it by about a round but a great performance against a top ten fighter. They have him ranked 14th in the world on boxrec which it looks like he deserves.
I think he should fight either Zsolt Erdei or Karo Murat next.
As far as Cleverly goes I think he should stay away from Bhop or Dawson for the Mo and go for Beibut Shumenov. He needs to improve his technique before he takes on the top four in the devision because if he took them on now, he would lose easily.

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I agree that Shumenov would be a good way for Cleverly to go, before having a look at Dawson. I think BHop wouldn't be too bad a match up though, lots of experience and not a massive workrate to cope with.

Who stayed up all night and is knackered today?

Given the high expectations for Degale and Cleverly, I was underwhelmed by their performances. They were both supposed to be world class and I had them only just barely winning the fights. In fact, I thought Degale was close to losing his fight; he won by maybe a round or two. The Pole definitely had the stronger punches. Considering that Degale also had a lot of trouble with Groves who is good but not supposed to be world class, I don't see a very high future for either fighter. Cleverly loses to the top light heavyweights - Pascal, Dawson, Cloud, Salikh, or Hopkins. Degale loses to any of the top guys at super middleweight. Don't get me wrong though, I applaud both for their valiant efforts in the ring last night. They were in entertaining fights and fought their arses off.

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Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Given the high expectations for Degale and Cleverly, I was underwhelmed by their performances. They were both supposed to be world class and I had them only just barely winning the fights. In fact, I thought Degale was close to losing his fight; he won by maybe a round or two. The Pole definitely had the stronger punches. Considering that Degale also had a lot of trouble with Groves who is good but not supposed to be world class, I don't see a very high future for either fighter. Cleverly loses to the top light heavyweights - Pascal, Dawson, Cloud, Salikh, or Hopkins. Degale loses to any of the top guys at super middleweight. Don't get me wrong though, I applaud both for their valiant efforts in the ring last night. They were in entertaining fights and fought their arses off.

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Degales people just need to put the brakes on, I mean it was his 11th fight, so for the next few years stay away from world class, still young and time to develop...not sure hell ever get there but really he should be nothing more than a prospect at this point.

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Originally Posted by armin

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Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Given the high expectations for Degale and Cleverly, I was underwhelmed by their performances. They were both supposed to be world class and I had them only just barely winning the fights. In fact, I thought Degale was close to losing his fight; he won by maybe a round or two. The Pole definitely had the stronger punches. Considering that Degale also had a lot of trouble with Groves who is good but not supposed to be world class, I don't see a very high future for either fighter. Cleverly loses to the top light heavyweights - Pascal, Dawson, Cloud, Salikh, or Hopkins. Degale loses to any of the top guys at super middleweight. Don't get me wrong though, I applaud both for their valiant efforts in the ring last night. They were in entertaining fights and fought their arses off.

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Degales people just need to put the brakes on, I mean it was his 11th fight, so for the next few years stay away from world class, still young and time to develop...not sure hell ever get there but really he should be nothing more than a prospect at this point.

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100% correct. Master his skills before moving up. This was almost too much of a step up. If he had lost here, it would have been a major setback for his career.

I thought Cleverly would be too much for Bellew and was hoping that cleverly would knock him out by about round 7. Not for the first time i called it wrong. Bellew impressed me with a definite step up in workrate and class and Cleverly failed to use his head and adapt. Bellews amateur pedigree and boxing skills were much more apparent and i was impressed by both fighters post fight interview. Think they really earnt each others respect. Degale on the other hand seems to be struggling to convert a great amateur pedigree into an effective pro style. He showed real heart and cajones tho and maybe needs to change trainer, he seems adamant he does not need to but time will tell. Wilczewski was a real test and Degale came through, just needs to regroup and not rush because anything above this level could destroy his confidence. Think his braggadocios attitude is just masking a real lack of belief.

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Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

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Originally Posted by armin

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Originally Posted by Rantcatrat

Given the high expectations for Degale and Cleverly, I was underwhelmed by their performances. They were both supposed to be world class and I had them only just barely winning the fights. In fact, I thought Degale was close to losing his fight; he won by maybe a round or two. The Pole definitely had the stronger punches. Considering that Degale also had a lot of trouble with Groves who is good but not supposed to be world class, I don't see a very high future for either fighter. Cleverly loses to the top light heavyweights - Pascal, Dawson, Cloud, Salikh, or Hopkins. Degale loses to any of the top guys at super middleweight. Don't get me wrong though, I applaud both for their valiant efforts in the ring last night. They were in entertaining fights and fought their arses off.

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Degales people just need to put the brakes on, I mean it was his 11th fight, so for the next few years stay away from world class, still young and time to develop...not sure hell ever get there but really he should be nothing more than a prospect at this point.

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100% correct. Master his skills before moving up. This was almost too much of a step up. If he had lost here, it would have been a major setback for his career.

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I do agree but he has to be fighting in fights where he wil llearn and this was a great test for Degale, It was a very tough fight which he came through and at one point I was thinking oh dear...what if he loses this fight....he isnt anywhere near world level give him some more Euro level oppoents to learn from and then we will see.

Most of the Brits who have recently stepped up all seem to look smaller and dont punch as hard! Apart from maybe Froch/Khan.