By Paul Moon

Later today at the Wembley Arena, the postponed vacant European light-heavyweight title fight will take place between the British and Commonwealth champion Nathan Cleverly, 22, and former European champion Antonio Brancalion, 34.

Cleverly is destined to become only the seventh Welshman ever to hold the British, Commonwealth, and the European crowns, joining the elite band of Jim Driscoll, Freddie Welsh, Eddie Thomas, Dai Dower, Johnny Owen and Colin Jones.  Only Freddie Welsh went on to win a world title but Cleverly is bang on target to be the next.  Currently third in the IBF light-heavyweight rankings, with numbers one and two vacant, the Welshman could soon be in the position of mandatory challenger to champion Tavoris Cloud.

I spent time with team Cleverly this week witnessing his training and preparation for the forthcoming contest and to get an accurate perspective.  This will be Cleverly’s seventh championship fight in the space of 16 months and he has never been stronger.  The mood from the camp is very confident indeed!

Whilst Brancalion is capable and experienced this fight represents a last hurrah.  The chances of him regaining the European title are remote and retirement beckons.  In his last fight against Germany’s Juergen Braehmer there was evidence he did not relish the nitty-gritty and he showed some curious behaviour (including going down on one knee as Braehmer approached him).  He succumbed in one minute 23 seconds of the first round, which is all the boxing he has had in 14 months.

Brancalion has good basic and evasive skills but with little power.  He likes to jab, use a straight right hand then dance away.  He specialises in making poor fighters look worse.  Although boasting 13 years experience he has spent most of his career in a bubbled comfort zone fighting 34 out of 41 contests in Italy against second-rate countrymen and Hungarians.  His record is solid if unspectacular, recording 32 wins with just eight knockouts (only one in his last 12 fights).

Apart from his experience, Brancalion is giving away home advantage, as well as height and reach advantage.  Cleverly is a natural 175-pounder and is now fighting at his optimum weight.  His energy, speed, power, progression and natural stamina will be too much for the ageing Italian.  A strong jab and a variety of shots that are able to switch from the body to the head in an instant support these attributes.  Good foot movement supplements all of this.

Cleverly told me that he will not allow Brancalion his customary step forward.  He will distinguish any lingering hopes the man from Rovigo may have in the very first seconds.  He promises to take him off his feet and impose himself from the first bell.  Vince, Cleverly’s father and trainer, told our readers that the fight would be decided between round one and six.

When speaking to Frank Warren, he confirmed that should Nathan come through this fight with style, Warren’s preference is for two defences of the European title before stepping Nathan up to a world title fight.  The Commonwealth title will be relinquished.

To date, the true value of Nathan Cleverly’s achievements have yet to be recognised.  A testament to his intelligence and determination will see him graduate in Maths at Cardiff University this May whilst pursuing his boxing career at this level.  It is bitterly disappointing that the Welsh public has yet to acknowledge him.  But they will!