• Nathan Cleverly v Tommy Karpency

Cleverly takes time against scrappy Karpency

ESPN staff
February 25, 2012
Nathan Cleverly celebrates his win © PA Photos
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Nathan Cleverly made a straightforward defence of the his WBO light-heavyweight world title on Saturday, defeating the out-matched Tommy Karpency by unanimous decision.

Cleverly, making the third defence of his crown, was clearly a class or two above his American opponent - testing him from the opening bell but never finding a finishing shot, eventually needing the judges' scorecard to give him a clear victory. The judges all scored the bout 120-108 in Cleverly's favour.

The Welshman was never in danger of losing, as he showed both a greater workrate and technique to keep his distance from Karpency while regularly tagging him with clean shots - although the American deserves credit for taking the punishment and keeping in the bout for the distance, despite a lack of attacking threat of his own.

On the undercard, Enzo Maccarinelli won the second bout of his comeback with some ease, stopping Ciaran Healy inside two rounds.

A series of strong shots to the body quickly stopped Healy. Maccarinelli now fights British cruiserweight champion Shane McPhilbin in March, with a future meeting against Cleverly mooted in some quarters.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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