Cleverly, DeGale Box Office double

March 17, 2011   ·   1 Comments

(Updated 19/05/2011)

Sky Box Office will broadcast live coverage of Cleverly v Kuziemski and DeGale v Groves in a big night for British boxing on Saturday, 21st May 2011.

Undefeated Nathan Cleverly will go up against Aleksy Kuziemski who has a record of 21-2 with one of his defeats being an 11th round knock-out by Braehmer for this title back in 2009. Meanwhile, Olympic Gold medallist James DeGale will make the second defence of his British Super Middleweight title against London rival George Groves.

Cleverly had originally been due to fight Juergen Braehmer, however the WBO Champion pulled out at the eleventh hour after sustaining an eye injury. It sparked a frantic search to find a new opponent for Cleverly and Liverpuddlian Bellew, who boasts a 15-0 record, accepted the offer.  However, Bellew failed to make the weight and so Polish boxer Kuziemski has now flown into England on short notice to have a crack at the title.

Groves – who like DeGale boasts an unbeaten record – has been training alongside WBO Heavyweight World Champion David Haye in preparation of taking on his adversary.

Sky Sports commentator Jim Watt, said: “This is a night of boxing that whets the appetite. In Nathan Cleverly we have a young ambitious boxer looking to take the next step in his journey and become a World Champion.”

Watt added: “DeGale v Groves is the kind of grudge match that we haven’t seen since Benn v Eubank. There’s no love lost between these two, the bitter rivalry that exists between them has been built up since they first met as boys at the same boxing club in West London. For me DeGale starts as favourite but you cannot dismiss Groves – the atmosphere in the arena on the night will be like a football derby and formbook goes out of the window as both men look to settle the score.”

The event, billed ‘This Is It’, includes James DeGale v George Groves, Nathan Cleverly v Tony Bellew, plus Frankie Gavin v Young Mutley, from the 02 Arena, London, will be screened live from 8.00pm, Saturday, May 21st, on Sky Box Office HD (Channel 752) and Sky Box Office (Channel 743).  Repeat shows will be screened at 9.00am, 12.00pm and 8.00pm on Sunday, May 22nd on both channels.

Tags: George Groves, James DeGale, Nathan Cleverly, Sky Box Office