Mayweather v McGregor: Nathan Cleverly to face Badou Jack on Las Vegas undercard
Friday 11 August 2017 15:21, UK
Nathan Cleverly will defend his WBA light-heavyweight title against Badou Jack on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s Las Vegas fight with Conor McGregor, live on Sky Sports Box Office.
The Welshman will make the first defence of his belt against Jack, a former super-middleweight world champion, before Mayweather faces UFC star McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena on August 26.
Cleverly (30-3-KO16) claimed the WBA title last October after he pounded Juergen Braehmer to a sixth round stoppage defeat in Germany.
Jack (21-1-2-KO12) is well known by British fight fans as he defended his WBC super-middleweight title with a split decision points win over George Groves in 2015, and then battled to a draw with James DeGale in a unification clash this January.
The Sweden-born fighter is promoted by Mayweather and has moved up in weight to pursue more world title fights.
"This is a fight I have wanted ever since Badou Jack moved to light heavyweight and I'm delighted to fight in Vegas on an event like this," said Cleverly.
"I've trained long and hard for this fight and I'm ready to be let off the leash. This is the biggest fight of my career so far and I'm going to do a number on Badou Jack on August 26."
Jack added: "I'm thankful for this opportunity and I'm excited about getting another shot at a world title.
"To be a part of this event and fighting on this card is historic. Nothing beats it. I'm excited to get back in the ring. I'm getting ready to take that belt, and win a title in my second weight class.
"The biggest difference between past training camps and preparing for this fight is the fact that I was training to get the weight down, now I'm training to build muscle and perfect my boxing strategy.
"This will be a tough fight, but I don't see any issues getting through it. I feel confident and fans can expect a win by knockout or decision. He's not leaving with that belt. It's staying right here in Las Vegas."
There will be a second world title fight on the undercard, with Gervonta Davis (18-0-KO17) defending his IBF super-featherweight title against Francisco Fonseca (19-0-1-KO13).
Shawn Porter (27-2-1-KO17) will be in action over 10 rounds with the weltwerweight taking on Thomas Dulorme (24-2-KO16).
Unbeaten Andrew Tabiti (15-0-KO13) will face Steve Cunningham (29-8-1-KO13) for the NABF cruiserweight title, while Juan Heraldez and Jose Borrego put their unbeaten 12-0 professional records on the line in another welterweight scrap.
And there is also a professional debut for Britain's Savannah Marshall, who faces another super-middleweight debutant in America's Amy Coleman as she steps up after winning World and Commonwealth titles as an amateur.
