Frank Warren

In his latest column, Iain Axon catches up with British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly.

He comes from a small village just outside Cardiff, is trained by his dad, is a tall, good-looking crowd pleaser - and has world class written all over him.

You'd be forgiven for drawing comparisons between hot prospect Nathan Cleverly and Joe Calzaghe, yet those backing the youngster to go all the way to the top insist that he's very much his own man.

His promoter, Frank Warren, is adamant that Cleverly is not the new Calzaghe - "he's the new Nathan Cleverly" he says - but does think he'll be just as successful.

"Cleverly is an active fighter for one,
he's not pulled out of any fights," said Warren, attesting to the fact that his charge will have his sixth championship fight in the last 12 months on Friday at York Hall.

There, the British and Commonwealth light-heavyweight champion will defend his titles against former Olympian Courtney Fry.

But Warren is hoping Cleverly will generate the same kind of interest in Wales - and across the rest of the UK - Calzaghe did towards the end of his career.

"Joe took a long time to sell, even in Cardiff," he said.

"I've got letters from television companies saying that they weren't interested in showing his fights.

"But everyone has been keen on Nathan from the start. 

"He's one of the guys on the list for Sky television, and they have taken my word that he is going to be a star, and they believe in him.

"We've taken Nathan to London a couple of times and around the country as well, but we will go to Wales with him and we'll do so soon."

One major difference between Cleverly and Calzaghe is that the former is about to graduate - pending exam results - with a Maths degree from Cardiff university.

A boxer with a degree would have been unusual even 10 or 15 years ago, but boxing's current crop of stars boasts at least a couple of accountants, bank workers and a former law student.

"It's been difficult combining studying and boxing, but I've been fortunate in having my dad train me, and we've been able to fit everything in," said Cleverly.

"I'm living back at home at the moment, there are less distractions there.

"When I first went to university I lived with other students and there were plenty of temptations.

"I think I needed to because I didn't want to get to a situation where a few years down the line I'd look back and want to go out and party.

"Now I've got it out of my system."

Cleverly is his own man, but the Calzaghe analogies will persist, especially as he began boxing under Joe's father, Enzo, as a young boy.

Cleverly's dad Vince, who played in a band with Calzaghe Snr, also assisted at the Newbridge gym for nine years before recently setting up his own premises.

Now he's hoping to recreate that father and son success.

"Nathan always loved school," said Vince, who has five sons - but only one boxer.

"He's always loved training as well. I used to train him for cross country running, and he was just as dedicated to that as well.

"I don't train any other professionals because I want to dedicate my time to Nathan."

Should Cleverly win on Friday he's likely to fight for the vacant European title on December 5 in Newcastle - probably the final step before challenging for a world title at some point next year.