Welsh star Nathan Cleverly is flattered by all the sudden attention shown to him by American rival Tavoris Cloud. The unbeaten Welshman is currently in training for his WBO Interim World Light-Heavyweight title fight against Alejandro Lakatus on December 11 in Liverpool, but IBF champ Cloud has already threatened to KO Cleverly in Wales. Cleverly said, “I don’t know how Cloud developed this infatuation with me, but I’m flattered by all this attention, although his head seems to be in the clouds about fighting me!.”
“He’s saying that he’ll shorten my career, we’ll I’m telling him that I’ll put an end to his when the time is good and ready,”
“The wins over Glen Johnson and Clinton Woods were impressive, but I’m a fresh young fighter and will only get better as I mature,”
“That’s all I’m saying about Cloud for now, I’m focusing on my fight against Lakatus and I wish Cloud all the best against Flugencio Zuniga a week after me.”
BROOK FACES CLARK ON BIG DECEMBER 11 LIVERPOOL SHOW
British star Kell Brook will take on former world title challenger Michael Clark on December 11 in Liverpool.
The experienced American has 40 wins on his record, and will be one of the most dangerous opponents Brook has faced.
He stands between the Yorkshireman and a crack at the WBO World Welterweight title.
A former star of the hit US TV series The Contender, Clark also fought Artur Grigorian for the WBO title in an up and down thriller.
Overall Ohio native Clark has a 40-5-1 (18) record.
The pair will meet on a huge card in Liverpool, where Paul Smith will defend his British super-middleweight title against James DeGale, and Nathan Cleverly, Matt Macklin, Frankie Gavin and Tony Bellew are all in action.
“I’ve had a look at his record, and Clark knows what he is doing,” said unbeaten Brook.
“These Americans are always dangerous, and hopefully I can send out a statement by beating him.
“I felt a little bit flat after the Jennings fight because of the way that it ended on a cut.
“This time I’m going to give the fans a treat and knock this guy out big time.”
Brook, who secured a Lonsdale belt outright with four consecutive stoppage wins, is currently ranked number one by the WBO and in pole-position to challenge for the vacant title.
His promoter Frank Warren is in negotiations for that fight to take place against another American, highly rated Mike Jones, in February.
“These are a bigger couple of months for Kell,” said Warren.
“He can’t afford to look too far ahead when he takes on Clark, but he has the carrot of a world title fight dangling in front of him.
“I think he is one of the most exciting talents in boxing at the moment, and now he has the chance to prove me right.”
Tickets for the Return of the Magnificent Seven, priced at £40, £50, £100, £150 and £250, are available from:
The Liverpool Echo Arena
0844 800 0400
www.echoarena.com
Ticketmaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
See Tickets
0871 220 0260
www.seetickets.com
Tony Oakey’s Protégé Joel McIntyre Set For Local Debut On Nov 21st
Portsmouth Light Heavyweight Joel ‘El Toro’ McIntyre, the protégé of Former WBU Champion Tony ‘Oakey Kokey’ Oakey, is set to debut against Elvis Dube at the Mickey Helliet promoted ‘Oceana’s Eleven’ event at the Oceana Nightclub in Southampton on Sunday 21st November 2010.
McIntyre, who is co-trained by Johnny Eames and Derek Grainger at the Ultrachem TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, London, is clearly pleased that his maiden outing has been switched to a venue closer to his home fans as he recently said,”I was disappointed when the fight (at the York Hall in London) was called off as I was really ready. Now I look at it as just one of those things. I think it’s great that I’m now debuting closer to home, there will be far more of my supporters that can get here than would have to York Hall.
Training has been going really well and I’ve been getting plenty of really good sparring here with Ali (Heavyweight Ali Adams), Mitchell (Cruiserweight Mitchell Balker) and Kyran (Light Middleweight Kyran Singh) and I’m ready for the 21st.”
In addition to Joel ‘El Toro’ McIntyre versus Elvis Dube ‘Oceana’s Eleven’ there are at least seven further bouts featuring local fighters, including Worthing’s sensational Lightweight prospect Alex Dilmaghani, Portsmouth Light Middleweight Mark Coombes, Basingstoke Welterweight Darryl Still, Chichester Super Bantamweight Jonathan Fry, Mudeford, Dorset Light Welterweight Shane Watson and Southampton duo Featherweight Jon Fernandes and Light Heavyweight Mark Atkins.
Tickets for the Mickey Helliet promoted ‘Oceana’s Eleven’ event at the Oceana Nightclub, Southampton, Hampshire on Sunday the 21st November 2010 are priced £30 (Unreserved) or £60 (Ringside).
For tickets call: 07960 850645, book on-line at www.tkoboxoffice.com or in person at The Ultrachem TKO Gym, Gillian House, Stephenson Street, Canning Town, London E16 4SA or direct from Joel call 07765 104296