Dominant Cleverly announces arrival on world stage after spectacular display
Welshman Nathan Cleverly sealed a crack at the WBO light-heavyweight title after forcing Karo Murat to retire at the end of round nine in their world title final eliminator after a pulsating encounter at Birmingham’s LG Arena tonight. It was a thrilling performance from the 23-year-old university Maths graduate who didn’t stop chucking leather from start to finish until finally referee Mark Nelson decided that Murat could take no more.
In this battle of the unbeatens, Cleverly (12st 5 12oz) made a lightening start by hurling hooks to the body and right hands over the top as he chucked the proverbial kitchen sink at the German in the early going. Murat (12st 5 8 oz) tucked up well and came back with two right hands of his own towards the end of the third as the snap was starting to go out of Cleverly’s earlier impressive work.
Cleverly, content on putting on a spectacular show, continued to throw caution to the wind in round four. A beautiful uncorked uppercut and a follow-up left hook snapped Murat’s head back as Nathan went looking for a tear-up. The German was so far showing little signs of being unduly concerned despite the ferocity of Cleverly’s attacks and there was a suspicion that the Welshman could punch himself out.
Another spectacular burst backed Murat to the ropes in round five but Karo enjoyed his own successes with right hands as Cleverly’s punch output again dropped towards the end of the session. Both fighters went toe-to-toe and swapped left hooks bombs on the bell as the shoot-out began to intensify.
Murat appeared to be gradually working his way into the fight but his tendency to be a tad one-paced meant that he often came off worst when the fighters exchanged. A crunching left hook and a right hand appeared to shake Murat as the German endured his first genuine crisis in round six. Gamely Karo attempted to battle back but his best replies merely prompted Cleverly to stick his tongue out in defiance.
Understandably, the pace slowed in round seven but Murat was unable to take advantage. Normal service was resumed towards the end of the round as a quick burst of hooks from Cleverly jolted Murat as the contest was becoming increasingly one-sided. Murat’s fortunes worsened in the eighth when an accidental clash of heads caused a cut to the bridge of his nose.
Sensing the fight was slowing draining out of the German, Cleverly resumed his relentless onslaught, drilling Murat with an uppercut as he started to really work the visitor over. The ringside doctor took a close look at Murat in the interval but the German was allowed out for round nine. Ironically, Karo did a little better in this session but still had to eat a cracking right hand from Cleverly as Nathan’s speed, variety and tenacity underlined his superior qualities.
Just then Murat seemed poised to come out for the tenth referee Nelson, acting on the advice of the ringside doctor, waved things off. Cleverly’s all-action style is breathtaking to watch. The talented Welshman improves to 20-0 (10) and looks ready to follow in the footsteps of compatriot Joe Calzaghe after recording his seventh straight stoppage win.
