Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew / Piotr Wilczewski v James Degale

I'm really looking forward to a pair of really good fights tomorrow night, and I think both of them have the potential to be absolute crackers.

Cleverly v Bellew is one which I (naturally) expect Cleverly to win, but there is a possibility that there might be a hiccup or two along the way. Bellew does hit hard, but I don't think he's really mixed in the kind of company to show how hard he hits so far, although outboxing Ovill McKenzie was a smart move after his chin was exposed in the first fight. As for Clev, he's been proceeding nicely for the most part, but his odd fight against the late sub Mohammedi did raise questions about how he copes mentally with adversity. I'm not convinced of his world champion credentials yet, and I doubt the Bellew fight will change that, but should be entertaining, and I'm calling Cleverly on points, but with Bellew going down twice.

As for Degale v Wilczewski, its fair to say that Degale hasn't been given an easy comeback fight, with the Pole having KO'd Amin Asikainen last time out, which, apart from Macklin has been a very durable fighter. Looking at the weigh in Degale is as usual taller and looks to have the advantage in reach, and I think he'll try and box, but will look to press more than he did against Groves. Degale on a wide points win for me.

I have read Cleverly and Tony nearly started a fight at the weight in.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Master

I have read Cleverly and Tony nearly started a fight at the weight in.

---

Watched the video on youtube, and it looked like Bellew was absolutely itching for confrontation from the very start. Degale and Wilczewski did a face to face shot then a shoulder to shoulder facing the cameras fine, and after the Clev/Bellew weigh in Cleverly went to do the same. Bellew didn't seem to be expecting it and reacted really badly, and had to be pulled away.

Not to be critical, but he seems like quite a highly strung boy does Tony.

What time do the fights start tonight?

I think cleverly wins this one. I think Bellew has the ability to make it interesting but i just believe cleverly has more class than Bellew and will really pick up the pace mid to late rounds. Bellew hasn't fought anyone of cleverlys class and that lack of experience I think will show tonight. I expect Cleverly to get him out of there by the 9th.

What time does fight start

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Dropanuke

What time does fight start

---

The Degale v Wilczewski fight is about to start now, Cleverly bout probably in an hour or so.

Degale not getting a particularly pleasant reception. It sounded like a fight between two away fighters.

Good even fight so far, and it's the pole's workrate v Degale's flashier more accurate work. Shipping a few shots though.

Yeah this pole cam to fight unlike that dude from last weekend, fairly even fight so far...

Piotr just stole the fifth and degale got a little help from ref there possibly

Great round for Wilczewski, big right over the top, if he was a real puncher that would be it, but Degale hung on. Boxing well for the first half of the round, but battered in the last minute.

Degale was in spot of bother there i dont like the bloke much but dont want to see him lose here

Degales landing more clean punches but piotrs punches seem to be having more of an effect

Degale looking to up the workrate again, and grabs the seventh, but he's not making it easy on himself. Getting clipped far too often with the overhand right.

Looks like Wilczewski is really tiring now, as Degale has moved into the lead over the last couple of rounds, with some really good combinations, and some decent left hands too. Wilczewski's still live though, and Degale has to watch out for the overhand right.

Degales taken the last few and piotr becoming less effective, still a decent fight and props to degale for jumping in there right away with a tough opponent.

Degale gave that round away by not doing nothing imo

Silly boy Degale, just left the good work of the last few rounds and dropped the workrate. You've got to go out and impress if you want to take a title, and I'm not convinced that Degale has done that so far.

I got it fairly close and gave the last two to piotr

Good fight all in all, Degale will probably have edged it, especially with his best round of the fight in the 12th.

Degale looked as though he was tired going into the fight. He'll need to hope that the home advantage gives him the nudge he needs, which considering it's a Warren promotion, he probably will do.

Degale by a round or two probably, but he better stay away from the top dogs for a few years, might be getting moved along a bit to quickly, maybe time to put the brakes on. Credit to both guys, and to the ref even for doing a nice job and not interfering to much, I hope its not 118 110 cause that's shit

114-114, 113-115, 113-115. And the new....
Degale is a very lucky boy, and that guy who called the draw once again ruins what I was sure was going to be an awesome week of fights for me in the prediction competition.

If Degale really does have higher ambitions, he needs to step it up big time.

Can't complain about those scores honestly, and if it was in poland it probably would have went the other way...then again tho I keep thinking I would have rather been piotr in that fight...

Doesnt deserve euro title coming off a loss but.....Buncey has a good point that was a tough long fight for someone with that amount of fights.

Bet he shit it when he heard majority decision though! lol ;D

did he do his stupid pose before the fight? he seems to have been humbled for sure. Did like the interview in BN this week he did admit he probably took things a bit far with Groves.

De gale deserved the decision, good learning fight for him.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Master

De gale deserved the decision, good learning fight for him.

---

And yeah no argument here, but he needs to stay away from world class for a few years. Piotr was good but he's probably two steps below the top dogs and gave degale all he could handle. Slow it down and let degale develop some more and not rush him to world class...

No messing about tonight is there. Straight on to the main event, I'm liking it. Come on Clevlar.

God Bless You Both? Interesting intro from Richie Davies.

Decent opening, better shots from Cleverly, and I reckon 10-9 to the champion. Not that the home crowd agree.

Nice first round perhaps an overreaction by ref but might be the way to keep it a clean fight

Another interesting round of boxing, Bellew with a good first 90 seconds that looked to have Cleverly in trouble, but dodging some of the shots, and recovered fine. 19-19.

The cagey stuff begins in round 3, both of them switching some good jabs, and Bellew maybe doing a bit more of the work to actually win the round. 29-28 to the challenger.

More good work from Bellew in round 4, with plenty of good jabs and a few body shots as well thrown in there, but Cleverly looks to be struggling with what Bellew is bringing, looking more polished as a boxer than he did in the 2nd McKenzie bout. 39-37

Round 5, and the pendulum swings back to Cleverly. Good work in the first half of the round, some decent uppercuts from Cleverly, but a few body shots straying low, and Clev gets a telling off. Bellew comes back in the second, but brings the gap back to one round. 48-47 bellew

Cleverly must have brought ricky hatton to camp...

Round 6

Another good round for Cleverly, plenty of work to the body softening up the scouser, and some good uppercuts too. Bellew and Clev exchanging low blows, neither of which get picked up by the ref. 57-57

Big effort from Bellew, lots of body shots and hooks, but Cleverly slipping plenty of those shots. Bellew is looking tired, but he took that round for me. 67-66 Bellew

Seventh to bellew on workrate but that might have tired him who knows

I got bellew by two just feel like cleverly is keeping something in the tank each round

Cleverly squares it up once again, Bellew really seems to be struggling to keep up with Nathan's stamina, his shots becoming laboured. Cleverly fighting clever, and Bellew landing a lot on arms, elbows and gloves. 76-76

I thought ninth is more of the same and fairly easy to score cleverly just not doing enough and got bellew up by 3 now