Cleverly bags rare KO win

Cleverly: Improving power

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Nathan Cleverly successfully defended his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title with a fourth-round stoppage of Kenyan Douglas Otieno.

The maths student from Wales had clearly done his homework on his opponent and worked the body to great effect, using his superior height and reach to dominate from the outset.

The 21-year-old had only stopped three of his 13 previous victims but a short, sharp upper cut sent Otieno the canvas midway through the fourth and the referee had little choice but to immediately wave the fight off.

"To be honest I was waiting for that day to come, when I hit someone and they fall over, instead of just wearing someone down." Cleverly, who was making his first defence of the title, told Sky Sports.

"But to knock that guy out, it just proves that my power is improving.

"I started boxing long, gradually worked my way in, I could see the opening, the head was coming down and it was perfect timing with the upper cut.

"I'll be knocking on the door of any light-heavyweight in Britain, I'm not going to rush and get carried away in the glory and start calling out big names.

"It's early days yet and I've got to work my way in the sport but anyone who steps in my way I'm ready to take."