Home Boxing News Vincent Cleverly: Nathan is 100% prepared for Kovalev

Vincent Cleverly: Nathan is 100% prepared for Kovalev

August 17th in Cardiff sees the highly anticipated clash between WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly, of Wales and challenger Sergey Kovalev, of Russia.

The unbeaten champion (26-0, 12 KOs) is trained by, his father, Vincent Cleverly and they held an open work-out, for the public in the busy shopping area, of Cardiff.

The champion did a work-out that included pads, bags and medicine ball work, before signing autographs and taking photos with the fans. Vincent took a few moments, to chat with me for Ringnews24.com.

The key to a successful fighter, is having the right training and being fully prepared, come fight night, so I asked Vince, how preparation has gone, so far. “Absolutely brilliant, the preparation has gone, I would say, better than what I expected really. Nath is finding another level, with his game, strengthening it up. He’s got that man-strength coming. What people have got to remember is that Nath is, still, 26 and what he has achieved, at such a young age, fighting against top class men. I think the preparations have gone 100%,” he explained.

“He finished sparring with Mikkel Kessler. Then, he came home and had two weeks off, so about ten weeks (training in total). Ovill Mckenzie, Mikkel Kessler, Frank Buglioni and various other good boxers (In sparring). Nathan has done around seventy rounds sparring with Ovill McKenzie. To be honest, I have never seen, Ovill McKenzie, look so good. He did ten rounds, of sparring with Nath, the other day, at a very high pace.”

The challenger is arriving in the UK, with a lot of backing from the US and has been storming up the world rankings. How does the champion’s trainer rate him? “Very, highly. Very dangerous opponent, otherwise, he wouldn’t be ranked No.4, in the World, in the Ring magazine rankings.”

Sergey Kovalev has been hitting the headlines, in the US, with displays of powerful punching against rated contenders, like Gabriel Campillo. This is an opportunity for the champion to propel himself, into the limelight, across the pond. “I think the story behind Kovalev is, HBO are backing him, that proves that they really rate this Kovalev. Otherwise they wouldn’t be putting the money into him. So, if Nathan does beat him, Sergey Kovalev, which I think he will – it’ll be a difficult fight but I think Nathan will beat him. Then, I think, HBO might change their attention to Nathan and realise how good Nathan is.” explained Vince.

The hard task is beating the man, who has impressively compiled a record of 21-0-1, 19 KOs, but with every fighter there must be some weakness. The challenger has never been past eight rounds. “It’s not only that, it’s his overall style. Anybody that knows anything about boxing. I’ve had a look at him and Nathan’s had a look and there’s a couple of gaps there, that we can sort-out or work-out. Yeah, definitely. A number of weakness’.”

The fight takes place at the Motorpoint Arena, in Cardiff and a full house, is expected for the show that has been called ‘Red Mist’. Those that do attend are likely to witness two of the divisions best fighters and a champion who already looks in superb condition.

Below are some photos of the open work-out and feature trainers Vincent Cleverly, Darren Wilson and Tony Borg. Boxers: Nathan Cleverly, Gary Buckland, Aled Cook and young, welsh champion Rhys Edwards.