Preview: Premier Boxing Champions on Spike ‘Fonfara vs. Cleverly’

Light Heavyweights
Andrzej Fonfara (27-3, 16 KOs) vs. Nathan Cleverly (29-2, 15 KOs)

With his stock at an all-time high, Andrzej Fonfara returns to his stomping grounds at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago to take on Nathan Cleverly in a Premier Boxing Champions light heavyweight headliner on Friday night. Fonfara is unbeaten in 13 appearances at the UIC Pavilion, including 10 triumphs by knockout. However it was his most recent win, a stoppage of Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in California on April 18, that has established him as a fighter to watch at 175 pounds. Cleverly, a Wales native, will be fighting in the United States for just the third time in his professional tenure.

The card airs on Spike TV beginning at 9 p.m. ET/9 p.m. PT and also includes a 115-pound clash between Kohei Kono (30-8-1, 13 KOs) and Koki Kameda (33-1, 18 KOs) in the co-main event.

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The Matchup: Fonfara was a significant underdog heading into his showdown with Chavez Jr., but he surprisingly controlled the fight, successfully landing short punches in combination throughout. He dropped his Mexican opponent for the first time in his career in round nine before Chavez Jr.’s corner threw in the towel before the start of the tenth frame.

The 27-year-old Fonfara has now won 17 of his last 18 fights, with his only setback during that time coming against Andonis Stevenson in May 2014. Even then, the Chicago-based Pole had a solid showing, as he rallied from a pair of early knockdowns to drop Stevenson in the ninth frame. While Fonfara appeared to have Stevenson reeling down the stretch, it wasn’t enough to earn the nod from the ringside judges.

While Fonfara is trending upward, Cleverly returns to 175 pounds for the first time since losing his title to Sergey Kovalev via fourth-round knockout in 2013. In the meantime, the 28-year-old went 2-1 at cruiserweight before stopping Tomas Man in a catch-weight bout on May 30. The loss to Kovalev briefly had the Welsh fighter contemplating retirement, and it will be interesting to see if he can maintain his passion for the sweet science going forward.

While Fonfara doesn’t hit as hard as Kovalev – very few people do – he possesses plenty of heart and toughness to go along with his size advantage. Fonfara is both taller and longer than his foe, though that edge will not be as pronounced as it was against Chavez Jr. Still, he likes to frustrate opponents with his length and awkward style, and Cleverly will have to be patient as the bout unfolds.

That said, Cleverly cannot allow his adversary to get comfortable and establish a rhythm. Fonfara relies on good footwork and a solid jab to control distance. His lead hand also serves as a set-up for his straight right; Fonfara has decent but not fearsome power.

Cleverly is a slick boxer with technical skills and a good gas tank. His stamina allows him to utilize movement and a high output to rack up points, but his power is average at best. Even though Fonfara has momentum, Cleverly’s skill set gives him a fighting chance. Fonfara is not particularly athletic, and foes with the ability to make use of angles and movement can give him problems. In addition, because of his lanky build and upright guard, Fonfara can be vulnerable to a savvy offensive attack.

The Pick: Against Chavez Jr., Fonfara appeared to graduate from a workmanlike fighter to a potential star. For that progression to continue, he will have to overcome a game opponent in Cleverly, who is capable of giving him trouble. Look for Fonfara to get through a few rough patches, gradually establish a rhythm and emerge with a decision victory.