By Paul Moon
Some famous names have come from Blackwood (Caerphilly), including the influential rock band Manic Street Preachers, 80s rock singer Steve Strange, International Opera singer Dame Margaret Price, and rugby players Alun Pask and Alun Lewis. However, there is another name that could eclipse them all.
Although not a household name at the moment, Nathan Cleverly, 22, is the next Welsh sporting sensation primed to take the boxing world by storm. Rated six in the WBO ratings, Cleverly is about to explode onto the world boxing scene.
Nathan was the red-hot favourite to beat the undefeated Danny McIntosh, 29, at The York Hall last Saturday; however, his performance in adding the British light heavyweight title to his Commonwealth title highlighted just what makes Nathan so special. Only carelessness can hinder him, as he looks a class or two above his current opponents.
The student has caught the eye since turning professional, and was nominated for the prestigious Boxing Writers’ Young Boxer of the Year award in both 2007 and 2008, but it is the work he has done since that has been of greater consequence.
His father Vince, with great help from Alan Davies, has now taken over Nathan’s training and preparation. Under this astute stewardship Cleverly looks the real deal. The one-to-one training is reaping huge dividends.
Improvement and momentum is gathering at such a speed it seems inevitable that a world title shot will be set up within the next 18 months. With only ageing Americans blocking his path, it is not impossible that Nathan could be World Champion within the next two years.
I was fortunate enough to witness part of his training for the McIntosh fight. Nothing was been left to chance, with all eventualities covered. Cleverly was in absolute prime condition, mentally, and physically.
Cleverly has thus far shown a maturity, confidence, fitness, and determination seldom seen in one so young. A remarkable achievement when you take on board the fact that his voyage to this point in his career has been far removed from the road taken by the stereotypical boxer.
This particular pugilist is articulate, assured and grounded. The fighter is on track to graduate from Cardiff University next year with a Maths Degree. Clearly, this family has covered all bases; they have a clear focus of the job in hand.
South Wales sport is already on a high after the massive successes of Ffos Las, near Llanelli (the first new turf horseracing course in Britain for 81 years) and the successful staging of the first Test in the Ashes series at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.
This area of Wales has always been synonymous with the production of great individual sportsmen, though the region has been a little quiet of late. The name of Nathan Cleverly, 17-0 (7), reverberated across South Wales on Sunday morning, as his public acknowledged their new sporting hero.
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