Sport

Cleverly sets sights on Francis
by Mark Doyle, 13 October 2008

Cleverly sets sights on Francis

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Nathan Cleverly is targeting a bout with Dean Francis after claiming the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title with a win over Tony Oakey on Friday night.

The 21-year-old Cleverly took his record to 13-0 with a commanding points win over veteran Oakey and is now hoping for a British title shot.

However, the Welshman insists that he intends to plan his career carefully and will not be getting ahead of himself.

"I'm not going to get caught up in all the hype," Cleverly told www.walesonline.co.uk.

"It's going to be back to the drawing board and down to hard work.

"We are going to sit down now and decide whether to defend this or go for another title."

He added: "I just have to stay level-headed and my dream to become world champion can be realised.

"I haven't set a time to achieve my goal because anything can happen in boxing.

"It's hard to be a champion, but harder to stay one and that's why I've got to dig deep."

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Comments

hecmac - 28 October 2008 21:55: All you lot look at francis and oakey then cleverly and oakey and you can plainly see that young nath would outbox and cut up an ageing francis thats why francis chickened out.Big macca could not drop clev or calzaghe in sparring and they tried althought big mac did break is nose so what chance would the one handed francis have. So bring on francis!!!!!! clev his definatley the best lightheavy in the country bar Calzaghe,ask powers clev stopped in 6 francis in 9; Report this to a moderator

carl from B/stoke - 24 October 2008 20:59: Deano will knock Cleverly out. Like he did Oakey, Starie and many others (look at the guys KO rate) I hope Dean can realise his own dream at 34. A world champion from Basingstoke, now im liking the sound of that!; Report this to a moderator

Rizzy - 14 October 2008 08:35: This kid has no power, and he doesnt know how to move around the ring. He will not be world class, unless he starts to train under a special trainer and starts to move around the ring and gains some power in his shots; Report this to a moderator

uppercut - 14 October 2008 08:15: would be a good scrap,at least cleverly is taking out all the domestic compitition first,not getting ahead o himself or thinking hes better than he is at this early point like some people,can you see him mixing it with the likes of dawson ?debatable eh,clinton woods would be a cracker at some stage?; Report this to a moderator

Mr H - 13 October 2008 21:10: Agree Daddy P - Clev did well to outmanouvre Oakey at a young age but Francis is another level - I'm still not a fan of the way Clev throws his straight shots, seems to be a lack of technique and he is feather-fisted too.; Report this to a moderator

Daddy p - 13 October 2008 15:26: Cleverly put on an excellent display against oakey but francis would be a different kettle of fish, francis is heavy handed with excellent boxing skills and providing his right shoulder was to hold up would have to much experience for cleverly.; Report this to a moderator

ste - 13 October 2008 14:39: in his post fight interview he said he's like Barry McGuigan, well he's got problems then, well saying that he can go onto lose 3 times against BUMS and go in the hall of fame, sounds easy that, unbelievable; Report this to a moderator

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