• Light-heavyweight

Cleverly to consider future after loss

ESPN staff
August 20, 2013
Nathan Cleverly suffered the first loss of his career © PA Photos
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After losing his WBO light-heavyweight title to Sergey Kovalev on Saturday night, Nathan Cleverly is set to take time out of the ring and consider his future in boxing.

Cleverly was defending his crown for a sixth time but suffered the first loss of his career after falling twice being knocked down in the third round and then again in the fourth following a devastating display from his Russian opponent.

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Cleverly, who had hoped a win over Kovalev would seal a unification fight with IBF champion Bernard Hopkins, will now ponder his options.

"I've had two fights in a row now and I haven't really had a break and bounced straight back into this one - and it's been a long training camp," Cleverly told Boxing News. "So it's just time to have a normal life for a bit, maybe just have a couple of months just resting and enjoying myself and leaving it to my inclinations to guide me, really.

"See what my desire is, if I want to continue. Am I going to stay at light-heavy? Will I continue boxing? Do I want to find something else to do in life? It's a matter of having a break and letting my inclinations guide me."

And the 26-year-old Welshman revealed a promise he made to himself which may potentially mark the end of his career.

"You know, your instinct will guide you. I've always said as soon as I lose in boxing I will get out of the sport. Do I stick to that? Who knows. We'll see."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
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