Nineteen consecutive wins from beginning his pro career with a modest four round points win up in Scotland against Ernie Smith, in 2005, Nathan Cleverly had secured three major professional titles, namely, the British, Commonwealth and European light-heavyweight titles. He was on his way.

An eliminator for the WBO light-heavyweight title was successfully overcome with a tenth round stoppage of Armenian, Karo Murat. The referee stopping the fight immediately at the beginning of the tenth round following a doctors inspection in the corner between rounds.

Just three months later Nadjib Mohammedi, fighting out of France, proved to be an extremely durable opponent in a bout for the interim WBO world light-heavyweight title. In a tough fight with Cleverly performing at his very best he secured an unanimous points victory with the judges awarding him the verdict 115-112, 115-113 and 116-11. The stage was now set for a match-up with the reigning world champion, Jurgen Braehmer.

Set for 21st May, 2011 Cleverly's title shot didn't exactly go to plan, as Braehmer pulled out in the week leading up to the fight claiming an eye injury. Duly unimpressed the sanctioning body, the WBO, immediately stripped Braehmer of the title. Cleverly was then matched with Poland's, Aleksy Kuziemski - a former Braehmer victim having lost by 11th round stoppage - for the title. In just four rounds Kuziemski was dispatched with the referee waving the fight over due to a nasty cut over his left eye caused by a scything right hander from the NEW World Champion, Nathan Cleverly!

Four successful defences of his title followed, including a grudge match with Liverpool's Tony Bellew - who was overcome by a majority points decision - led to the next defence against undefeated Russian, Sergei Kovalev. Known for being a devastating puncher Kovalev was to prove all the hype surrounding him when he won in devastating fashion by flooring Cleverly twice in the third round before the fight was stopped in the fourth.

Over the next two years Cleverly's career was one of mixed fortune with three wins and two losses. One of the losses being to old foe Tony Bellew by a split decision. Nevertheless, the Welshman proved he could still mix it with the best when in October 2016 he finally got to face Jurgen Braehmer for a world title shot.

In the intervening years between their first scheduled fight (that Braehmer withdrew from) the German had won the WBA world title with a points win over American, Marcus Oliveira. Braehmer had also convincingly beaten fellow Welshman (and former World Champion) Enzo Maccarinelli by a 5th round stoppage, in a defence of his newly won crown.

Nathan Cleverly became a two-time world champion when Jurgen Braehmer retired in the sixth round due to an elbow injury in a fight that was close, but was surely going in the Welshman's favour................. still active