Home Boxing News Nathan Cleverly vs. Sergey Kovalev: Can They Carry The Torch?

Nathan Cleverly vs. Sergey Kovalev: Can They Carry The Torch?

You know a fight is special when everyone has an opinion on it, and that opinion is very diverse.  If you speak with ten people, four will say Cleverly will win easily, four will say Kovalev will win easily, and two will say it is a toss up.

Not many people are asking the right question, however. Will this fight do the 175 pound division proud? It is a division rich in tradition and often overlooked.

Prior to the expansions in weight, the light heavyweight division was sandwiched between the glamorous middleweight division and the glorious heavyweight division and was grossly underappreciated.  The good news is that true boxing fans know how sacred the 175 pound division is.

This has been a division that takes a back seat to no one with all time great fighters and fights. Billy Conn, Archie Moore and Ezzard Charles have all made their bones at 175. You will not find a better boxer than Harold Johnson. Harold is as classic as it gets.

The 70’s was a great decade for the sport and 175 was right there with great contributions.

Bob Foster ruled early and great fights ruled late. I challenge anyone to name better fights than the two Matthew Franklin vs. Marvin Johnson fights. Later named Matthew Saad Muhammed, Franklin gave us thrills against John Conteh, Yaqui Lopez, and Richie Kates. Saad continued this tradition with great fights in the early 80’s as well.

The 70’s also were treated to great wars involving Victor Galindez, Eddie Gregory, and Mike Rossman.

The 80’s witnessed the hard work of great champs like Michael Spinks and Dwight Braxton’s hard work come to fruition.

175 in the late 80’s and early 90’s showcased one of the best trilogies ever involving Dennis Andries and Jeff Harding, produced a hall of famer in Virgil Hill and was the birthplace of future heavyweight champion Michael Moorer.  

In recent times 175 the spot for great talent like Roy Jones, Bernard Hopkins and Darius Michalczewski. A talent rich division to say the least.

Tonight Nathan Cleverly and Sergey Kovlaev step into the 175 pound spotlight. Handlers and fans of both fighters feel their man is something special. Does this mean they can produce a special night?

Looking at the division they have history on their side. With the exception of Spinks vs. Braxton (Dwight Muhammad Quawi), when the best fights the best at 175 it is something special. That fight did not live up to expectations, but it is still a history making event.

Now that Cleverly and Kovalev are facing off, they face the pressure to not only win, but to produce something special. Something historic.  The bar has been set and the division demands it!