The WBO World Light Heavyweight Championship
Cleverly triumphs over Karpency
Nathan Cleverly scores a routine win in his first fight on home
soil for four years. The Welshman retains his WBO World Light
Heavyweight Championship after he secures a heavy points win over
his lacklustre opponent.
All three judges scored it 120 - 108 as Cleverly secures a
whitewash win in front of a boisterous Cardiff crowd. Cleverly will
now look to a big unification bout in the summer, with the winner
of Bernard Hopkins vs. Chad Dawson or IBF World Champ Tavoris
Cloud.
The Welshman, making his first World Championship defence on
home soil, took complete control of the fight from start to finish.
He rocked his American opponent in the fourth round with a series
of stinging body shots, which led some commentators to question
whether Karpency's corner would through in the towel.
As the fight progressed into the later rounds, it became clear
that Cleverly had an insurmountable points advantage and so it
proved as all three judges handed him a unanimous points
victory.
Cardiff awaits Cleverly homecoming
The WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion Nathan Cleverly makes a
hero's return to Cardiff to defend his WBO World Light Heavyweight
Championship against tough American southpaw Tommy Karpency.
Nathan Cleverly
It's over four years since Nathan Cleverly last fought in Wales
on the Calzaghe-Kessler undercard in November 2007. Since then he's
featured at some of the major arenas in England on big World
Championship cards and also in Las Vegas.
His last fight was a thriller against rival Tony Bellew in one of
the contests of the year, and he's looking to excite on his Cardiff
return.
During the fight build-up, the Welshman has promised to win and
do so in style against his unfancied opponent. Cleverly will know
that a victory - and a third defence of his WBO crown - would open
the possibility of a summer unification bout against either Chad
Dawson or Bernard Hopkins, who contest the WBC World Light
Heavyweight Championship in April.
Tommy Karpency
American Challenger Tommy Karpency boasts a strong record of 21
wins from 24 fights with 14 knockouts.
He enters this fight having previously won the Fedecentro Light
Heavyweight Championship in 2009, but failed with a WBO
Intercontinental challenge the following year.
A victory would represent a coming of age for Karpency, 26, who
will have a passionate and partisan Cardiff crowd against him.
The Undercard
A trio of hot Welsh prospects also feature on Nathan Cleverly's
world championship undercard, aiming to prove that they are future
World Champions in the making.
Unbeaten talents Craig Evans, Francis Robinson and Lewis Rees
will take another step on the ladder towards Championship titles at
Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena on Saturday 25th February.
Craig Evans - Super Featherweight
Blackwood super featherweight Evans, 22, leads the way and is
unbeaten in five fights.
He said: "The city is really buzzing again ahead of the big show
at the Motorpoint Arena. It looks like the start of exciting times
for Welsh boxing again and we are all going to show fans that we
are the next champions.
"Calzaghe's fights against the likes of Charles Brewer and Byron
Mitchell at the Motorpoint Arena and against Kessler at the
Millennium Stadium were amazing and I want my name at the top in a
few years' time."
Francis Robinson - Light Welterweight
Ely light welterweight Robinson, 21, son of the Wales' former
WBO World Featherweight Champion Steve, is undefeated in three
fights.
He said: "For a small nation we have produced some of the best
boxers to come out of Britain. I believe I've got the talent to
become a World Champion like my dad, Calzaghe, Maccarinelli and
Cleverly and want to be headlining shows here in a few years' time
just like dad did. We've got the best boxing talent in Wales and we
aim to show why at the Motorpoint on February 25."
Lewis Rees - Light Welterweight
Tonypandy light welterweight Rees, 22, is trained by Gary "The
Rocket" Lockett, the former WBU World Middleweight Champion.
Unbeaten in two fights with two KO's, his all-action style has
really impressed the media and public.
"I used to come to all the big shows in the city when I was an
amateur and I'm thrilled that I'm now going to be now fighting on
them," Rees said.
"It's my first fight as a pro back home so I'm bringing a good
crowd to see me fight and put on a great show for them. My trainer
Gary has given me plenty of advice from his fighting days and I'm
really excited about this new era for Welsh boxing."
Liam Williams - Middleweight
Another name to keep on eye on is Clydach Vale middleweight Liam
Williams, who's trained by Cleverly's father Vince. He's only
had one fight, but has big ambitions.
He said: "I'll be world champion one day, for sure. I've got a
long way to go, but that's what I'm in this sport to achieve.
Training with Vince and alongside Nathan has given me that ambition
and I know I can achieve it."
