Enter Stage Right

Nathan Cleverly and Kevin Mitchell aim to snatch a lead role and star billing in the future productions of Frank Warren this weekend, emerging from stage right and out from Amir Khan’s shadow, no longer talented understudies to the departed headliner.

On a rammed bill at Wembley Arena, Cleverly, 18-0 (8), faces Italian veteran Antonio Brancalion, 32-7-2 (8), for the European light heavyweight championship.

Mitchell meanwhile, faces off against Colombian, Ignacio Mendoza in a marking time bout he hopes will lead to a world title bid later this year. Both men are bidding to fill a Khan sized hole in Warren’s talented stable and will look to steal a march on the other main contender for the part, the flashy Kell Brook.

Cleverly should prove far too strong for his Italian opponent who is coming off a one round pasting from Juergen Braehmer (currently serving jail time). Using a good jab backed up with strong punching, the Welshman should send Brancalion packing in around 6 rounds.

Cleverly shows as a whopping 1/14 favourite with William Hill (Brancalion is 7/1).

Mitchell’s opponent Mendoza, 27-5-2 (18) lost a technical decision to the Essex puncher’s domestic rival John Murray in 2005 after a clash of heads, yet has a patchy record other than that (his last opponent posted a 0-15-4 ledger). The super featherweight from Pais Vasco, Spain will find Mitchell leagues above anyone he’s come across previously and despite being under orders to box from Jimmy Tibbs, Mitchell should bang his man out of there before half way (indeed it will be interesting to see if he can despatch Mendoza before Cleverly disposes of Brancalion).

Mitchell has odds of 1/12 with Mendoza out at 6/1.

The rest of the bill sees Derek Chisora, 11-0 (6) in against late sub Carl Baker 9-4 (6) in a bout which may be lively up unto the point Baker runs out of gas. Unless Baker hits a home run, Chisora should be able to outwork his man.

Super prospects Frankie Gavin and James DeGale also feature against Peter McDonagh and Matthew Barr respectively. Look for Gavin (rated 34th domestically at light welter) to outpoint McDonagh (rated 28th) over six whilst DeGale (rated 9th domestically at super middle) can stop Barr (ranked 12th) in around four rounds.

Those looking to make a small profit could wager an accumulator on Mitchell, Cleverly, Gavin and DeGale (leaving the heavyweight bout alone); though the pickings will be mighty slim. More value can be found in the over/under betting.

  • Is Bernard Hopkins annoying anyone else in the build up to his belated fight with Roy Jones quite as much as he is me? Hopkins is coming over as quite the bully. If his defeat to Jones first time around stuck in his craw this long, what happens if Roy repeats the trick this time?
  • A quick scroll through FightNews.com during the week left me looking for the escape button. Evander Holyfield accused of (domestic) violence……Nonito Donaire’s opponent pulls out…… Bute takes on world class punching bag Edison Miranda…….uurrgghhhhhhh….
  • Talking of bad news, it looks as though Amir Khan’s next opponent will be Paulie Malignaggi, who featured in my previous post on non-punchers (he has the poorest kayo record in world class boxing) and not Marcos Maidana (who has the second finest kayo record in world class boxing). Make of that what you will.
  • BBC Sport reported this week that Joe Calzaghe is suing Frank Warren for £1.8m relating to unpaid profits from the Hopkins fight in 2008. The High Court awarded the fee to Calzaghe last year after he won an action against Sports Network Ltd. The promotional firm went into administration soon after leaving Calzaghe unpaid.
  • I’m hoping footage can be found on Sunday of two white hot prospects featuring on the Pinoy Power card in Vegas. Jose Benavidez and Matt Korobov are up and comers which get the heckles rising.
  • News filtered in tonight that the Froch-Kessler fight has been moved back a week (due to HBO lining up direct competition in Bute-Miranda and Pavlik-Martinez). That may blow my chances of attending, thanks a bunch big guys.

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