Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly stay on collision course for rematch

skysports.com

Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly remained on course for a rematch later this year as both claimed impressive victories in Liverpool on Saturday evening - and then exchanged verbal barbs at ringside.

Bellew, topping the bill in his home city of Liverpool, inflicted a first stoppage defeat on Brazilian Julio Cesar Dos Santos.

A left hand to the head sent Dos Santos to the canvas in the fifth round and, although the South American managed to beat the count, he remained unsteady on his feet and the fight was waved off.

"I was trying to set him up for the perfect shot and boy did I set him up nicely," said Bellew. "He traded left hooks with me and that's one thing you don't do. It's simple: if you do, you're going to sleep."

Cruise for Cleverly

Cleverly, who beat Bellew on a majority decision when the pair met for the WBO light-heavyweight title in 2011, had earlier made his second appearance since moving up a weight division.

The Welshman, who lost his world title to Sergey Kovalev last August, stopped Alejandro Valori in the fourth round to improve his overall record to 27-1.

The Argentinian was down in the second round after taking a left hook to the body and Cleverly finished things off with another left early in the fourth.

"I think that's the perfect second fight at cruiserweight," said Cleverly. "It was the same at light-heavyweight where I went through British, Commonwealth, European to the world title. I breezed through those levels with eight straight knockouts when I moved up in weight.

"The same is going to happen at cruiserweight. Bit by bit we're going to increase the level. This is easy for me, let's step it up now in the next fight - you know what's going to happen with that guy from Liverpool."

On the prospect of another fight against Cleverly, Bellew said: "I'm fat, ready and handsome... We both know deep down that I was dead on the scales (in 2011). The tables have turned."
 

Source:  www1.skysports.com/boxing/news/12183/9380606/tony-bellew-and-nathan-cleverly-stay-on-collision-course-for-rematch

Nathan Cleverly and Alejandro “Mojarra” Valori

Tony Bellew calls out 'plastic world champion' Nathan Cleverly for rematch 

After claiming a fifth round stoppage over Julio Cesar Dos Santos

independent.co.uk

Cleverly also picked up a technical knockout on Saturday as he stopped Alejandro Valori, and the pair look set to renew their rivalry following their 2011 bout

Tony Bellew reignited his fierce rivalry with Nathan Cleverly by branding him a “plastic world champion” moments after the Liverpool fighter claimed a fifth round stoppage over Julio Cesar Dos Santos at the Liverpool Echo arena. Cleverly had earlier defeated Alejandro Valori in a fourth round stoppage, with the victory pointing to a grudge rematch with Bellew.

Welshman Cleverly successfully defended his WBO light-heavyweight title against Bellew in October 2011 before losing the belt to Russia’s Sergey Kovalev last August.

A fired-up Bellew called for Cleverly to face him inside the ropes, telling Sky Sports 1 after his fight: “He knows I want to do it.

Earlier on the undercard, Anthony Joshua claimed a second round knockout of Matt Skelton while Luke Campbell got the decision against Craig Woodruff and Anthony Ogogo won a fifth round stoppage against Wayne Reed.

 

Source:  www.independent.co.uk/sport/general/others/boxing-tony-bellew-calls-out-plastic-world-champion-nathan-cleverly-for-rematch-after-claiming-a-fifth-round-stoppage-over-julio-cesar-dos-santos-9602586.html