Braehmer vs Cleverly: Challenger shades champion on scales

By Isaac Robinson

Image: Nathan Cleverly and Juergen Braehmer face-off

WBA world light-heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer was fractionally lighter than Nathan Cleverly at the weigh-in for Saturday's clash in Germany.

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Neubrandenburg provides the setting for Braehmer's seventh defence and he clocked the scales at 78.5kg in front of his compatriots with Wales' Cleverly heavier at 79.2kg, both inside the 79.38kg limit. 

Cleverly (29-3-KO15), who held the WBO version of the title before losing to Sergey Kovalev in 2013, told Sky Sports Boxing afterwards: "I can't wait. I've been looking forward to this fight. It was meant to happen when I was 24 and Braehmer didn't turn up

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"We've got history. I believe it's my destiny and tomorrow I'm going to rip that belt from Juergen. He's a very good fighter - a good boxer and a big puncher but he's 37 years of age now. I'm 29 and with my relentless style, I'll let my hands go and outmuscle and outwork him.

"It was an intense stare down and he's up for it but so am I. This is a proper world title fight. No reservations. There have been a few dodgy decisions for the travelling fighter in the past but I'm not worried about that. I'm going to enjoy it.

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I think it'll be fair on the scorecards if it goes to the scorecards. I think it'll be a late stoppage or a points victory.
Nathan Cleverly

"I think it'll be fair on the scorecards if it goes to the scorecards. I think it'll be a late stoppage or a points victory for Nathan Cleverly."

Promoter Kalle Sauerland said of Braehmer (48-2-KO35): "He's had a very colourful career and very successful. He spent some time in prison, came out, turned his life around and has been undefeated for a very long time.

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Image: Braehmer was the lighter man on the scales

"Juergen wanted this fight. There were the cancellations five years ago. They're both looking forward to it. I'm excited and all the fans should be now. It's going to be a great fight.

"He's still quite fresh. I think tomorrow night will be his hardest fight. We're expecting 12 hard rounds. Cleverly likes to come forward and Braehmer loves to counter-attack so don't blink or you might miss something."

Nathan Cleverly looks ahead to his clash with WBA world light-heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer

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