• Light-heavyweight

Cleverly: I would give 'hypocrite' Froch a lesson

ESPN staff
May 23, 2013
Nathan Cleverly is undefeated in 26 professional fights © AP
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WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has hit back at Carl Froch's decision to criticise him for sparring with Mikkel Kessler, branding the Nottingham fighter a "hypocrite".

Froch faces Kessler in the highly anticipated unification bout at London's O2 Arena on Saturday, and was unhappy at fellow Brits Cleverly and George Groves for helping his great rival.

Cleverly, however, issued he did not owe IBF champion Froch anything and said that he welcomed the chance to spar with the WBA titlist.

"If anything, Froch is being hypocritical because he was advising Kessler how to beat Brian Magee last year," Cleverly said. "Kessler asked me to go out and spar in Copenhagen. I decided it would be a great experience to go and work with someone of Mikkel's calibre.

"I've got no issue working with Mikkel because I don't owe Carl Froch anything. In fact, we are rivals. Why should I have remorse? I don't even know Carl and we have never socialised."

Undefeated Cleverly, who recently defended his WBO title against Robin Krasniqi at Wembley Arena, believes that a potential clash with Froch is still a way off.

However, if the pair were to meet on the canvas, Cleverly insisted he would have no trouble in seeing off the 35-year-old.

"Froch has said a few disrespectful things about me in the past and always talked around the chances of us meeting in the ring," Cleverly told Box Nation. "It is quite clear he doesn't fancy the fight with me. I feel I would give him a boxing lesson."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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