Cleverly v Fry preview
British and Commonwealth light heavyweight boss Nathan Cleverly (17-0) takes on former 2000 Olympian Courtney Fry (13-2) at the home of boxing in the capital, York Hall, Bethnal Green tomorrow evening. The rising star from the Cefn Fforest has drawn grandiose comparisons of late with one of Wales’ finest, the recently retired Joe Calzaghe however these would appear to be rather bold.
Cleverly reminds me more at the minute of another boxing boffin from the Valleys, Mensa member and former ABA light heavyweight champ, Nicky Piper. Similar in size and range, Piper had rather a heartbreaking career, losing in a WBC super middleweight title challenge to Nigel Benn in 1992 after boxing well early. He went on to put up a fierce challenge to WBO 175 lb champ and Kronk fighter Leeonzer Barber in his hometown of Cardiff in January 1994 before walking on to a devastating left hook which effectively terminated his title attempt (he’d later lose to Crawford Ashley in a small hall classic and in his final fight, to Dariusz Michalczewski).
Piper too was paraded in a mortar board by his promoter, hoping to sell the gimmick of an academic throwing leather for money, one perhaps which plays on a rather trite and incorrect stereotype.
Fry is a skilful and tidy operator; a former Commonwealth amateur champion who hasn’t been able to catch a break in the pro’s since turning to the paid ranks after an unsuccessful 2000 Sydney games. After exiting in the first round, Fry was then left to watch his team mate Audley Harrison waltz off with a surprise gold at super heavyweight. His two defeats thus far can also be taken with a pinch of salt, one a debateable four round decision to Ovill McKenzie, the other over three rounds to Tony Oakey in one of Barry Hearn’s Prize-fighter productions.
At 34, he’ll have it all to do here, however he should pose a far sterner test than is being expected of him. He isn’t an ‘old’ fighter in terms of the number of miles he has on the clock and will be coming to give his all in a venue which has seen the likes of John H Stracey, Charlie Magri, Nigel Benn and Maurice Hope doing their thing. Cleverly will be confident but may find himself shipping a lot more jabs than he’s used to which could in turn see him frustrated for periods. I’ll go for the younger man by 12 years Cleverly over the distance in a fight where he may not quite have things all his own way. A stoppage win would be impressive.
Cleverly is posted as a 9/1 on favourite, which means that if you bet £50 on the Welshman, Juanma Lopez and Yuriorkis Gamboa to triumph in what are all presumed to be walkovers this weekend, you’ll win a grand total of £9.53.
You don’t need a degree in maths to realise there isn’t any value in a wager like that.
* The fight will be televised by Sky TV. Undercard action features Billy Joe Saunders, Derek Chisora and the Walsh brothers, Michael, Liam and Ryan.
2 comments on “Cleverly v Fry preview”
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If you had taken that 50 quid bet, you would have been sweating early this morning.
JuanMa barely survived the latter stages against club fighter Rogers Mtagwa. That sound you hear is Caballero rubbing his hands together.
Also, have you seen Jorge Linares shocking KO defeat at the hands of the unheralded Juan Carlos Salgado? Upset Of The Year, without question. Here’s the link to that fight.
http://www.411mania.com/boxing/media/118742
It was certainly a weekend of surprises.
Hey Dave mate, neary missed this one. Yeah, Juanma’s my boy but he was really in the mire by all accounts, I’ll knock something up with regard to that on Eastside this week (feeling guilty at ballsing up my fight report-so a productive week is in order!!).
Cheers for the link, the curse of Golden Boy strikes again!!