Nathan Cleverly has welcomed the attention from IBF light-heavyweight kind Tavoris Cloud – but says he would love to shut the American up. Last week, Cloud called out the unbeaten Welsh star, telling him “I’l knock you out in the UK”. But Cleverly, who will challenge for the interim WBO World Light-Heavyweight title on December 11 in Liverpool, has hit back. “Cloud’s more than welcome to come to Wales and try and knock me out,” he said. “But quite a few fighters have tried before and got nowhere.
“It’s fantastic that the top American fighters are now sitting up and taking notice of me as it shows just how far I have come in a few short years and I’m still only 23..
“I can’t wait to mix up with them and take them on in their own backyard or wherever they want.
“I spent years sparring with the likes of world champions Joe Calzaghe, Enzo Maccarinelli and Gary Lockett which is the best ring education I could have got.
“I’ve got a solid chin and Cloud is welcome to come and test it. When I start landing on him, he’ll wish he was back in the States.”
Cleverly, who picked up the Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year award last week, added: “Cloud’s comments show that my name is getting bigger and bigger in America.
“It’s flattering in a way because now Cloud and other people in American are beginning to recognise I’m a world class talent.
“I think I moved in to world class with my win over Karo Murat in my last fight.
“Next time out I am fighting for a world title, and I’m getting better every time I step through the ropes.”
Tickets for the Return of the Magnificent Seven, priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £250, are available from:
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APPLEBY: I’LL BE THE NEXT WORLD CHAMP!
Rising star Paul Appleby says he wants to be Scotland’s next world champion – having been inspired by Ricky Burns.
The former British featherweight king boxes on Burns’ big December 4 card at the Braehead Arena in Glasgow in a 10 rounder, live on Sky Sports.
It will probably be his last outing before moving back into championship class.
The 23-year-old’s immediate target is a crack at the British title at either featherweight or super-featherweight.
But the South Queensferry hot-shot has bigger things on his mind.
“Scotland’s had a great run of world champions in recent years,” he said.
“Scott Harrison, Alex Arthur and now Ricky Burns.
“I’ve watched each of those guys come through, and now I want some of the glory for myself.
“Ricky has really ignited boxing again up here in Scotland with his win over Roman Martinez.
“Glasgow is buzzing at the moment and it’s beginning to spread to the whole country.
“That win was an inspiration to me, and I would love to follow in Ricky’s footsteps.
“It’s been a tough couple of years for me but I feel I am getting back to my best.
“The last couple of fights have been great, and I just can’t wait to fight on December 4.
“I have a feeling that 2011 could be a big year for me. I just want to get this next fight out of the way, then it will be back to fighting for titles.”
Tickets for Monarch of the Glen, priced at £40, £50, £75 and £100, are available from:
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Liverpool’s Tom Stalker named Britain’s top amateur by boxing writers
LIVERPOOL’S Tom Stalker has been named the Amateur Boxer of the Year by the Boxing Writer’s Club of Great Britain.
It follows a triumphant year for the Salisbury ABC lightweight which has seen him win Gold at the recent Commonwealth Games in Delhi and Silver at the European Championships in Moscow in June 2010.
He has established himself as GB Boxing’s first choice boxer in the 60Kg category and is in pole position for selection in the Olympic qualifying events in 2011.
Tom broke off preparations for the forthcoming GB Championships in Liverpool on 12 and 13 November 2010 to accept the award from BBC Boxing commentator, Mike Costello, at a star-studded bash at The Savoy Hotel in London in front of an audience of boxing greats including David Haye, Barry McGuigan, Lloyd Honeyghan and Frank Bruno.
Tom said: “It’s been an amazing last few months and the challenge now is to keep working hard and improving. My focus is on the forthcoming GB Championships in November and going into 2011 in pole position for the Olympic qualifiers later in the year.”
The GB Amateur Boxing Championships which will be held at the Echo Arena Liverpool.
Over 2,000 tickets for the event have gone already and are priced £5 for children and £10 for adults. They are subject to a booking and handling fee and can be purchased in person from the Echo Arena Liverpool box office, online at www.echoarena.com or by calling 0844 8000 400.
In the GB Championships, Tom will compete against fellow GB squad member, Martin Ward and Scotland’s Josh Taylor whom he defeated 11-3 in the Commonwealth Games final in Delhi.
The Semi-finals will be held on Friday 12 November from 3.00pm (doors open 2.00pm). The Finals will be on Saturday 13 November from 7.30pm (doors open 6.30pm).
GB Boxing’s Performance Director, Rob McCracken said: “Tom has boxed superbly in the second half of the year and merits this award. He did brilliantly well to get Silver at the European Championships in Moscow and followed it up with a series of superb displays at the Commonwealth Games where I felt he was the best boxer in the competition. He needs to take that form into the GB Championships and if he continues to work hard and show the same kind of progress he has made this year he will be in with a very good chance of making the Olympics in 2012.”