An injury has forced Nathan Cleverly to pull out of a second straight fight, this time withdrawing from his scheduled February 1 showdown with Illunga Makabu in Monte Carlo.
“(Nathan) has sustained a minor injury and will not be fighting in Monte Carlo on February 1,” Frank Warren, Cleverly's promoter, announced. "[W]e are about to re-schedule a fight for him."
The bout was to serve in supporting capacity to middleweight titlist Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, set to defend versus Osumanu Adama in the evening's headliner. Also still intact is another middleweight bout on tap, with England's Martin Murray facing Jarrod Fletcher of Australia.
The incident marks the second time in less than three months Cleverly was forced to withdraw from a fight.
The former light heavyweight titlist announced his plans to move up to cruiserweight following his one-sided 4th round knockout loss to Sergey Kovalev last August in Wales. His cruiserweight debut was to come on November 30, but an injury scratched his scheduled bout with Daniel Amman.
News of this withdrawal didn't sit well with promoter Rodney Berman, who blew his gasket for the second straight day.
“I knew he’d pull out,” claimed Berman, whose Golden Gloves promotional company hosts the event. “He’s not a true champion, I always felt that. Whatever excuse Cleverly is making, I know he hasn’t been injured. He pulled out because he realized he had no chance against Makabu."
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“(Nathan) has sustained a minor injury and will not be fighting in Monte Carlo on February 1,” Frank Warren, Cleverly's promoter, announced. "[W]e are about to re-schedule a fight for him."
The bout was to serve in supporting capacity to middleweight titlist Gennady "GGG" Golovkin, set to defend versus Osumanu Adama in the evening's headliner. Also still intact is another middleweight bout on tap, with England's Martin Murray facing Jarrod Fletcher of Australia.
The incident marks the second time in less than three months Cleverly was forced to withdraw from a fight.
The former light heavyweight titlist announced his plans to move up to cruiserweight following his one-sided 4th round knockout loss to Sergey Kovalev last August in Wales. His cruiserweight debut was to come on November 30, but an injury scratched his scheduled bout with Daniel Amman.
News of this withdrawal didn't sit well with promoter Rodney Berman, who blew his gasket for the second straight day.
“I knew he’d pull out,” claimed Berman, whose Golden Gloves promotional company hosts the event. “He’s not a true champion, I always felt that. Whatever excuse Cleverly is making, I know he hasn’t been injured. He pulled out because he realized he had no chance against Makabu."
[Click Here To Read More]
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