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Cleverly making plans

Champion all set for first defence

Last updated: 12th December 2008

Cleverly: confident

Nathan Cleverly v Douglas Otieno, live on Sky Sports 1, 10.30pm

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Commonwealth light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly makes his first defence tonight but the Welshman already has half an eye on bigger things.

The 21-year-old student takes on Kenya's Douglas Otieno in Widnes two months after claiming the title against Tony Oakey.

Cleverly told Sky Sports News: "Personally I thought it was an excellent performance. Everything went to plan. Tony Oakey is a quality operator and I felt like I dealt with the problem well. To become Commonwealth Champion is just an outstanding achievement for myself at 21 years of age."

The Kenyan is a dangerous operator and comes into the contest on the back of a 15-fight winning streak, but Cleverly insists: "This is the start, the stepping stone for me.

"That is what I feel, but at the moment it is a nice belt to have around my waist. A few defences, strengthen up in the meantime, mature with age and hopefully better honours will come."

Otieno himself is confident of leaving with the belt. "I am ready to take this opportunity," he said. "I think I have trained well. I am ready to take the belt."