Frank Warren at it again

Light heavyweight titlist Nathan Cleverly will make his third title defense on Feb. 25 at home in Cardiff, Wales, against American Tommy Karpency, promoter Frank Warren announced Tuesday.

Cleverly has not fought in Wales since 2007 and is looking forward to defending his title in his homecoming fight at the Motorpoint Arena.

"This is my first fight in Cardiff for a long time, and I'm looking forward to putting on a good show for my fans against Karpency," Cleverly said. "My return has created a big interest in Wales and it's going to be a fantastic welcome home.

"I've trained over Christmas and I'm in great shape already, and we're still over seven weeks away from the fight, so I'll be spot on come fight night."

Karpency (21-2-1, 14 KOs), of Adah, Pa., is a bit of a surprise challenger. He has never beaten a top opponent, and the only time he stepped up to face a world-class opponent he was knocked down and lost a clear decision to Karo Murat in Germany in May 2010.

The 25-year-old Karpency has won two fights in a row since the loss to Murat, whose only defeat was a 10th-round knockout to Cleverly in a September 2010 title elimination bout.

"Karpency looks like a tough fighter and he took Murat the distance last year, and Murat gave me a hard fight," Cleverly said. "I've got big plans for this year that I hope will include a unification fight, so I've got to keep busy and beat Karpency in style."

The 24-year-old Cleverly is coming off a majority decision win against rival Tony Bellew on Oct. 15 in Bellew's hometown of Liverpool, England. It was one of Great Britain's most action-packed fights of 2011.

Warren said an offer was made to titlist Beibut Shumenov to meet Cleverly in a unification fight. However, according to Warren, Shumenov said he would not be ready in time to fight on Feb. 25. Warren left open the possibility of the fight taking place later this year. Shumenov has also said he is interested in fighting Cleverly.

Cleverly also has said he is interested in fighting champion Bernard Hopkins, but that it would be more complicated fight to make, plus Hopkins is still recovering from the shoulder injury he suffered in his October fight with Chad Dawson.

Soonermark890 wrote:Nathan who?

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:Nathan who?

Cleverly, he's the heir to Calzaghe's throne.

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Soonermark890 wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Only if he gets Pascal tired.

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Only if he gets Pascal tired.

And Pascal fades in the second half.

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Only if he gets Pascal tired.

And Pascal fades in the second half.

yes, but I've seen Cleverly hit pretty clean by less than stellar fighters. I think Pascal is very dangerous in the first half of that fight.

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Only if he gets Pascal tired.

And Pascal fades in the second half.

yes, but I've seen Cleverly hit pretty clean by less than stellar fighters. I think Pascal is very dangerous in the first half of that fight.

It's a great fan friendly fight to make and it pisses me off that it's not in either camps radar.

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Only if he gets Pascal tired.

And Pascal fades in the second half.

yes, but I've seen Cleverly hit pretty clean by less than stellar fighters. I think Pascal is very dangerous in the first half of that fight.

It's a great fan friendly fight to make and it pisses me off that it's not in either camps radar.

Cleverly needs to come to the US or Canada for some fights to raise his profile here.

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:

Soonermark890 wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Cleverly could beat Pascal right now IMO.

Only if he gets Pascal tired.

And Pascal fades in the second half.

yes, but I've seen Cleverly hit pretty clean by less than stellar fighters. I think Pascal is very dangerous in the first half of that fight.

It's a great fan friendly fight to make and it pisses me off that it's not in either camps radar.

Cleverly needs to come to the US or Canada for some fights to raise his profile here.

Nah he's not ready for that yet because he's still in the stage of building a fanbase here.

Pascal and Shumanov should come to Wales or England to face him.

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Pascal came to Nottingham to face Froch, and Cleverly is the trinket holder.

captainanddew wrote:

Hagler's Bald Head wrote:Pascal came to Nottingham to face Froch, and Cleverly is the trinket holder.

Pascal wasn't putting 18000 butts in the seats back then.