Cleverly storms to European title

Due to our uncooperative desire to express an honest opinion and our refusal to ingratiate ourselves, we are unable to secure media accreditation from Frank Warren Promotions. So the following report is from sofaside rather than ringside.

Nathan Cleverly’s seemingly unstoppable ascent to world boxing honours continued apace with an impressive fifth round stoppage of Italian Antonio Brancalion for the vacant European light-heavyweight title. It would be hard to believe that ‘Clev’ is still only 22 if it wasn’t for everybody (me included) reminding us all. British, Commonwealth and now European champ before some fellas turn pro – quite remarkable.

Cleverly (12sts 6 ½lbs) got through with a couple of rights early in the first but Brancalion (12st 6 ¾lbs) took them easily, despite him having been iced in a round by Jurgen Braemer in his last European tilt. The pair exchanged meaty leather at ring centre and the Cefn Forest man shipped a decent left hook without undue worry.

A crisp one-two from Cleverly opened the second but the Italian fired back. The youngster – and one hopes it will not be his future undoing – is certainly prepared to take one to give one and it was turning out to be an exciting duel. Cleverly was boring forward but Brancalion was countering well and shaded the session on my card.

Cleverly started the third with a couple of lovely jabs but the round descended into a bit of a mess before the Welshman showed a bit of class with a couple of clean, hard right hooks, one of which drew a nod of acknowledgement from the visitor. This signature punch rattled home over Brancalion’s low left after a few seconds of the fourth and his legs stiffened momentarily. A look of anxiety was creeping over Brancalion’s face as he was clipped again with exactly the same right hook. To his credit, the Italian began to dig in before history repeated itself again and yet again – Brancalion was dropped by the right hook just as the bell sounded.

Cleverly came out of the traps like a man who wanted to end matters in the fifth and immediately re-introduced his right hook to Brancalion’s over-welcoming chin end. Again. And again. The Italian took an umpteenth biggie, sagged into the ropes and French referee Jean-Louis Legland wisely stepped in at 1:15.

Dagenham’s Kevin Mitchell registered one of the most impressive wins of his 31-0 career to date with a chilling second round knockout of Spain-based Colombian Ignacio Mendoza. Both boxers weighed 9st 9lbs.

Defending his WBO Intercontinental lightweight title for the first time, Mitchell boxed in a very controlled fashion in the opener and looked to jab to the body. Mendoza, who lost to John Murray years ago for the WBC Youth title, was reaching with his punches a little and his forward movement added to a short right hook of Mitchell. The blow landed to the side of Mendoza’s head and it was one of those that sent shockwaves through his whole body. A little skip preceded his descent to the canvas and he was counted out at 1:24 of the second round.

Promoter Warren said the WBO have given him 28 days to negotiate a match for their world title between Mitchell and Aussie highlight reel Michael Katsidis.

Birmingham’s ‘Funtime’ Frankie Gavin (10st 4lbs) looked good though he was taken the distance for the first time by Bermondsey’s Peter McDonagh (10st 2 ½lbs). McDonagh gave it a good go, especially in the first couple of rounds and I gave him a share of the second.

By the third though, the class gap was becoming a bit more evident with McDonagh missing more often and Gavin’s counter punching more accurate. Gavin had begun to enjoy himself in the fourth and the punch stats after this session were interesting – both had thrown 192, with McDonagh landing only 16 times to Gavin’s 65. The Bermondsey man’s frustration manifested itself in some verbals in the fifth and referee Jeff Hinds had to tell the pair to be quiet both during and after the round.

The pattern of McDonagh chasing whilst eating leather continued to the final bell and Hinds made the former world amateur champ a 60-54 winner.

I’m not really sure what it says when your ring walk lasts longer than your fight but that’s exactly what happened with James ‘Chunky’ DeGale. He stopped Walton-on-Thames trier Matthew Barr after 1:38 of the second round, knocking him down three times en route. The Olympic champion was rather embarrassingly accompanied to the ropes by his own personal MC reciting a track called ‘Party Hard’ which included a refrain about ‘Chunky’.

DeGale, typically, looked incredibly confident and gave out the message with his body language that it was a matter of when not if he was going to stop Barr. Bending very low when slipping punches, the man from down the road in Harlesden got through with an eye-catching double right jab, left cross combination. Barr was trying but, though possessing a decent domestic record of 14-5, he was outclassed from the off.

A right hook behind the ear had Barr down at the start of the second. He rose immediately and DeGale’s confidence was reflected in a little arrogance as he held his right hand down; Barr cracked him with a couple of lefts. DeGale fired in a short left, right hook double and Barr was looking at the floor again, rising quickly. He hadn’t got the message so DeGale hit him with another right, dropping him and referee Grant Wallis sensibly waved it off.

As it turned out, the weigh in proved far more watchable (though it was unpleasant viewing) than the fight. Finchley’s Derek Chisora stopped Sheffield’s Carl Baker in the second round of their British heavyweight title final eliminator contest which was much-anticipated after ‘Del Boy’ planted a full-blown smacker on the lips of Baker at the weigh in, sparking a melee. Baker’s stamina has always been poor and it seemed as if he was trying to pace himself. These tactics were proved to be wrong as all it did was give the impression of passivity.

Chisora got through with three right hooks over Baker’s low left in the first round and it was to be this punch which shook Big Carl to his boots in the next. Baker was caught flush and backed to the ropes, clearly hurt. He rightly held and tried to survive but the one thing he neglected to do was fight back. Nothing at all came Chisora’s way, despite Baker’s eyes seeming clear enough, and as it was only a matter of time before Chisora clattered Baker again, referee Howard Foster called a halt.

Baker was angry at the stoppage but if you don’t throw anything, are hurt and under pressure, out you rightfully go.

Oh, Chisora apologised for his antics and seemed genuinely penitent, unlike after his needless and quite ridiculous biting antics against Paul Butlin. The popularity jury is still definitely out on Chisora but he definitely has talent, at least in domestic terms.

Liam, who appears to be the most talented of Cromer’s three Walsh brothers, impressed in overwhelming durable Birmingham survivor Sid Razak, finally halting him in the fourth round. Razak is your stereotypical early 21c. journeyman who rarely threatens a prospect but is hard to shift. It’s much easier fighting when you know little is going to come your way but, regardless, Walsh looked good against this limited opposition and showed excellent variety in his work.

Other results:

Jamie Cox beat Michael Frontin on points over eight (Cox certainly didn't have it all his own way)

Ryan Walsh beat Ian Bailey on points over six

Debutant George Michael Carmen beat Matt Seawright on points over four