• Boxing

Cleverly intends to retire if Bellew beats him

ESPN staff
October 9, 2011
Somebody's unbeaten record will fall when Tony Bellew meets Nathan Cleverly © PA Photos
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WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has vowed to walk away from boxing if he loses to Tony Bellew on October 15.

Cleverly, who defended his title for the first time against Aleksy Kuziemski in May, is a strong bookmakers' favourite - but Bellew is unbeaten and fighting in his native Liverpool, so the result is far from a foregone conclusion.

"If I lose I would go as far as to say I would retire. I would go out of the sport, there would be no point continuing," Cleverly said to Wales Online. "Losing is not an option. The fact we're both undefeated makes the fight really interesting as we're going out there protecting records."

There has been a fog of hostility hanging over the bout ever since it was announced, with Bellew headbutting Cleverly at a fiery press conference during September - and the champion says the bad blood is just adding to his motivation.

"I can't wait to teach him a lesson on fight night and prove I'm a worthy world champion," Cleverly said. "With the fight in his backyard it might be a bit hostile but it's just a ring and it's only what happens in the ring that matters.

"He tries to fill himself up and make himself believe everyone is behind him. But he's delusional and in all truth he is not well liked. He shouts his mouth off and with his whole demeanour he comes across as a loudmouth. There's been a bit of disrespect and that just adds to the fire. I'm out to show talk is cheap."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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