Light Heavyweight

WBA, IBF and WBO light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev (29-0-1, 26 KO) has to overcome one more obstacle before he takes on Andre Ward in an epic confrontation in November.

Veteran contender Isaac Chilemba (24-3-2, 10 KOs) plans to be more than just a speed bump for the Russian wrecking machine. Not many are giving Chilemba a chance to beat Kovalev, but the 29-year-old Malawian told ESPN.com's Dan Rafael:

"Kovalev is not invincible. He is not God. He is a man just like me. I will be the man to crush the 'Krusher."

Here's how you can watch:

When: Monday, July 11 at 10:15 p.m. ET

Where: DIVS Palace of Sports in Ekaterinburg, Russia

TV: HBO

Last Time Out

Kovalev Crushes Pascal

In a rematch of one of Kovalev's most competitive battles, the champion took on Jean Pascal. The outcome wasn't pretty for the challenger.

The two men had built a bitter rivalry and Kovalev was merciless as he pounded on Pascal throughout the fight. By the middle of the bout, Pascal and his corner knew they had no chance to win.

With a nose that looked to be broken and a battered face, Pascal's trainer Freddie Roach waved the fight off before the start of the eighth round.

It was a methodical and dominant performance from Kovalev that solidified his place among the best fighters in the world.

Alvarez Edges Chilemba

In a controversial result, Eleider Alvarez won a majority decision over Chilemba. Many who saw the fight felt Chilemba might not have gotten a fair shake.

The scorecards were all over the place. One judge had it a draw, another had Alvarez winning 118-110 and the third scored it 115-113 for him as well. 

In any case, Chilemba's third loss didn't hurt him too much. Less than eight months later, he finds himself in a world-title bout. Perhaps the pain is yet to come.

Prediction

Allan Fox of Boxing News 24 calls this bout "a mismatch." He's right. This is going to be a one-sided fight. 

Chilemba is a good boxer, and he has good height and length at 6'2" with a 73" reach, but Kovalev should have no problem blasting through him.

The challenger has just 10 knockouts in his career. It'll be difficult for the Malawian to keep Kovalev at bay. By the sixth round, Kovalev will have put Chilemba down and possibly out.

No matter the details, Kovalev will win by stoppage.

After starring in the film Creed, Tony Bellew now gets the chance to script his own Hollywood storyline against Ilunga Makabu on Sunday in Liverpool, England.

Bellew's bid to become a world champion at the third attempt takes place at Goodison Park, the home of his beloved Everton and a venue used during his acting debut for the latest episode in the Rocky franchise.

Now the local lad gets the chance to be the hero on home soil in real life. There'll be cameras present again and no doubt plenty of action.

Makabu has the potential to be a party pooper in a battle to claim the vacant WBC cruiserweight title.

Also on the same card, siblings Callum, Paul and Stephen Smith are all in action. Heavyweight David Price also makes a welcome return to the ring, as he fights for the first time since July 2015.

When: Sunday, May 29, at 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)

Where: Goodison Park, Liverpool, England

TV: Sky Sports (UK)

Livestream: Sky Go (UK)

Life Imitating Art

For Bellew (26-2-1, 16 KOs), it is now or never.

The Bomber has been British, Commonwealth and European champion during a career that previously saw him campaigning light heavyweight before moving up to cruiser.

A world title, however, has so far eluded him. He narrowly lost out to bitter rival Nathan Cleverly in a British battle for the WBO light heavyweight belt back in October 2011.

While he avenged that loss to Welshman Cleverly just over three years later, there was nothing riding on the grudge match except personal pride.

The rematch took place at cruiserweight, Bellew having stepped up after suffering a TKO loss against WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson in November 2013.

Now, at the age of 33, the likable Liverpudlian hopes to make it third time lucky at the highest level.

While acting in Creed was fun, Bellew is now back to the day job. He is on the brink of making a childhood dream a reality, as he told Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com:

It's been a long process and it's time to fight now. There isn't much left to say. He told me it's not a movie and believe you me, I know it's not a movie. The places I'm willing to go.

Real blood, real sweat and real tears get shed in real life. I just can't wait. You dream about something your whole life. From the age of 14 or 15, I wanted to be a world champion. My lifetime's work goes in to those 36 minutes on Sunday.

Bellew played "Pretty" Ricky Conlan in Creed. His character was a brash, football-loving fighter who was a world champion at light heavyweight. 

It's time to find out if life can imitate art. Whatever the outcome, expect tears to be shed during the final scene.

Fight the Power

On May 26, 1989, Arsenal midfielder Michael Thomas scored a dramatic last-minute goal to break Liverpool's hearts at Anfield in a winner-takes-all showdown for the old First Division title.

On Sunday, Makabu (19-1, 18 KOs) has the chance to do the boxing equivalent, albeit at nearby Goodison Park.

There's enough in the southpaw's record to suggest Bellew—a lifelong fan of Everton, or the Toffees, as they are known—could come unstuck.

Makabu has quickly developed a reputation as a heavy hitter, particularly with his left hand.

He lost in Round 1 of his professional debut, but since then, he has reeled off 18 wins on the spin. Dmytro Kucher is the only opponent to hear the final bell—all the rest have been stopped inside the distance.

Against Bellew, though, he also has to deal with the occasion. 

Per Chris McKenna of the Daily Star, the visiting fighter is confident he can cope in what is likely to be a raucous atmosphere at a stadium used to hosting football games:

Tony can have a dream about fighting in this stadium because he is a fan of the club and because he was in the movie, but this is my time.

I am also living a dream and God has promised me that this is my time. This is going to my dream and my time. He must wait for a different dream another time.

I'm not worried about coming here. Tony is a boxer like me. I just come to box. He has nothing special for me.

As can be seen in Matchroom Boxing's tweet, Makabu is comfortably the smaller of the two:

However, a 90 per cent knockout ratio suggests Makabu eventually catches up with everyone he faces.

He is a seriously dangerous foe for Bellew, one who could ruin a seemingly perfect night with a solitary punch at any time.

Prediction

Everything is set up for Bellew to have his career-defining victory. He is fighting for a vacant title in his own backyard. Better yet, on the soil where Everton play. 

Yet the home favourite is actually the underdog. Per Odds Shark, he is priced at 7-5 for victory.

Because Makabu hits so hard his gloves should have a health warning stamped across the knuckles, expect Bellew to try and win the contest from long range.

His best chance of success looks to be via the scorecards, working predominantly behind his jab. If, however, the bout ends inside the distance, Makabu will be the one celebrating.

Bleacher Report will have a live blog covering the fights on Sunday. Join us from 7:30 p.m. BST (2:30 p.m. ET) for updates on the action.

The return of Andre Ward (28-0, 15 KO) headlines an HBO boxing card on Saturday night. The event will take place at the Oracle Arena in the former pound-for-pound contender's hometown of Oakland, California.

Undefeated Cuban slugger Sullivan Barrera (17-0, 12 KO) will provide the opposition. Here's a look at the viewing information for the event:

Date: Saturday, March 26

Time: 9:45 p.m. ET

Where: The Oracle Arena, Oakland, California

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation

Full Card Info: BoxRec

Here's a look at the final press conference, per FightHub:

What Have You Done Lately?

Despite the fact that Ward hasn't lost a boxing match of any kind since he was 12 years old, he still has much to prove on Saturday when he steps in the ring with Barrera.

Because of injuries and contract disputes with his former promoter, Ward has fought just once since November 2013. That inactivity and his technical approach to the sweet science has led to the 32-year-old falling out of favor with some boxing fans.

Ward's style is one that is most often appreciated by well-schooled fans who buy into the concept that boxing is about not being hit, more than it is about participating in brawls.

Unfortunately for Ward, the demographic that prefers the knock-down-drag-out affair outnumbers the connoisseurs of defensive boxing. 

Because he's also not the flamboyant and braggadocious type, Ward has often been the forgotten superstar in the sport. Translation: his brand can ill afford long layoffs. The pressure might have increased for Ward after his last bout. He stopped Paul Smith in the ninth round back in June 2015, but it wasn't one of his better performances.

That only added fuel to the haters' fire. This tweet from Alex Rodriguez that was retweeted by Tom Craze of Bad Left Hook illustrates how many fans feel about Ward's appeal:

The treatment Ward gets is unfair. There's been no more than five fighters in the last 25 years who are as skilled in the ring. Out of it, he's smart, thoughtful and articulate.

In boxing, those qualities aren't usually appreciated. In this interview with FightHype.com, Ward discusses his perception in the boxing community and other topics:

A potential clash with lineal light heavyweight champion Sergey Kovalev looms, but Ward has to beat Barrera first. Will he look to impress fans who have cooled on his in-ring mastery or stick to the script? 

Bringing the Fight

Barrera doesn't appear to be the kind of fighter most big names would pick in what amounts to a tune-up bout.

The 34-year-old Cuban is coming off a fifth-round KO win over Karo Murat in December. The stoppage was a bit premature by referee Wayne Hedgpeth, but the result didn't appear to be in doubt.

Barrera knows he's being looked as a stepping stone, but he's focused on ruining Ward's plans to regain his stature as one of the sport's best.

Barrera is 6'2" and powerfully built. He has large calves, which is normally a sign of a fighter who takes and gives a solid punch. His 12 KOs in 17 pro fights suggest he is a strong puncher.

Without question, he's never faced anyone with even a smidgen of Ward's technical skill and pure speed. His best best chance to win is to make it a brawl in the hope of exposing some ring rust on the part of the former champion.

Barrera's trainer, Abel Sanchez, has said that the gameplan is to pressure Ward, per Phil D Jay of World Boxing News from the first to the final round. Can that work?

Prediction

Barrera's record is a bit deceiving. In watching him against Murat, there are several holes in his game that a skilled veteran like Ward should be able to exploit. 

Barrera keeps his hands too low and telegraphs his power shots, but he does do a good job of changing levels with his punches. However, chances are, Ward will have planted a jab, straight and left hook on his grill before the Cuban launches a meaningful attack in most instances.

If Ward is in good form, he'll handle Barrera easily. A fifth- or sixth-round TKO is a likely outcome. If he's not the same guy, things could get interesting. However, it's still hard to see him losing this fight.

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Juergen Braehmer defends his WBA light heavyweight title against a familiar face in Eduard Gutknecht in Neubrandenburg, Germany, on Saturday.

The two have history—they previously fought each other in February 2013. Braehmer (47-2, 35 KOs) came out on top via unanimous decision on that occasion, reclaiming the European title in the process.

This time, however, Gutknecht (29-3-1, 12 KOs) not only has a shot at revenge, but also the chance to become a world champion.

When: Saturday, March 12, 10 p.m. GMT (5 p.m. ET)

Where: Jahnsportforum, Neubrandenburg, Germany

TV: SAT.1 (Germany) Sky Sports (UK)

Live stream: SkyGo (UK—subscription required)

The Other Champion

Braehmer reaches a notable milestone on Saturday—the fight with Gutknecht will be the 50th of his professional career.

Only two men have beaten him as a pro—Mario Veit, back in 2005 (a defeat that was avenged the following year), and Hugo Hernan Garay in 2008.

The 37-year-old from Schwerin will make the sixth defence of the WBA regular belt he claimed by beating Marcus Oliveira on points in December 2013. However, he just so happens to find himself in a division that is dominated by the presence of two fighters: Sergey Kovalev and Adonis Stevenson.

Braehmer is the other world champion at the 175-pound weight limit. Kovalev is even above him with the WBA, as Krusher is rated as the organisation's super champion.

Still, Braehmer is firmly ensconced as a star in his homeland, having fought all but one of his bouts on German soil (his solitary road trip was to Hungary).

The titleholder had originally been scheduled to face Tommy Oosthuizen in November 2015.

The initial date was cancelled when Braehmer picked up a hand injury, while the rescheduled bout bit the dust when the South African challenger was pulled out by his team for personal reasons, per FightNews.com.

Gutknecht is an excellent replacement. He narrowly lost the first fight between the duo, and there was obvious tension between the pair at the final pre-fight press conference.

Per the official Sauerland Promotion website, Braehmer said: "Eduard talks too much. He reminds me of my wife. Everything he says goes in one ear and out the other." The southpaw will have the chance to silence Gutknecht on the night he brings up his half-century.

Revenge Mission

After being handed an unexpected chance to fight for a world title, Gutknecht is out to settle an old score.

He still feels aggrieved at being on the wrong end of all three scorecards after the first bout with Braehmer, per Dan Rafael of ESPN.com: "I know I didn’t lose out first fight. Juergen Braehmer didn’t beat me. The belt was taken from me by the judges. But this time I will leave the decision in no doubt. This opportunity has come at the perfect time for me, and I couldn’t be more motivated."

Energy Eddy—who was born in Kazakhstan but is now based in Germany—may sound confident, but there is little on his record to suggest he can cause an upset.

He suffered a TKO loss at the hands of Dmitry Sukhotsky after the Braehmer defeat, then returned six months later to draw with Pablo Sosa, who was appearing in just his ninth pro fight at the time.

Despite four successive victories since then, the standard of opposition has been questionable at best. His three opponents in 2015 had a combined total of 38 losses, hardly ideal preparation for a title tilt.

Still, the one thing Gutknecht does have going for him is experience. 

The 33-year-old has been involved in a world title fight before—he challenged WBO super middleweight champion Robert Stieglitz in 2010 but lost on points.

It was the same result against Braehmer three years later, even if he believes the outcome should have been different.

Gutknecht insisted at the final media conference that he is willing to do "whatever it takes to win" the belt, according to Sauerland Promotions.

In simple terms, he needs to produce a career-best performance on what is a make-or-break night for his career. Considering he is an 11-2 underdog, per Odds Shark, it would be a major surprise if he levelled the score with Braehmer and made it one win apiece. 

Prediction

Braehmer insists he wasn't at his best for the first meeting due to an 11-month absence, per Rafael's story for ESPN.com. He does, however, have form going into the rematch.

In his previous five defences, four have finished inside the distance. Enzo Maccarinelli, Robin Krasniqi and Konni Konrad were all forced to retire, while he knocked out Pawel Glazewski in Round 1.

In contrast, Gutknecht's recent ring history doesn't suggest he can cause an upset. He will be brave and will force his opponent to work hard for the win, but Braehmer's reign will not be coming to an end just yet.

A stoppage in the second half of the fight is possible, though perhaps Braehmer's most likely method of victory is by a landslide decision on the scorecards.

Despite having held a world title, Nathan Cleverly is in danger of being remembered more for his defeats than triumphs.

The Welshman (29-3, 15 KOs) turned 29 on Wednesday. Time is not yet his enemy, but he is in need of a big fight in 2016 to kick-start a career that was derailed by Sergey Kovalev.

Krusher Kovalev emphatically ended Cleverly’s unbeaten record—as well as his reign as WBO light heavyweight champion—on Aug. 17, 2013.

Losing was one thing, but it was the manner of the defeat that was such a surprise.

Kovalev demolished him in the Welsh capital. With Cleverly already tasting the canvas twice in Round 3, the referee stepped in to save him in the fourth.

While his WBO belt was ripped away from him in a hurry, the beaten Cleverly was left with some encouraging words from promoter Kathy Duva, part of Kovalev’s team.

She said, per Gareth A Davies of the Telegraph: "Nathan can come back from this. He’s young, and talented, but for someone who had defended the title five times, he’s still fairly inexperienced. I’ve seen boxers lose before like this and come back to be great champions."

Duva was right—there was nothing to stop Cleverly from making a successful comeback after his first career defeat and going on to become a world champion again.

However, since facing the Russian, Cleverly's career path has been far from straightforward.

He has had five fights, including a brief foray up at cruiserweight, with comfortable victories over Shawn Corbin and Alejandro Emilio Valori paving the way for a rematch with domestic rival Tony Bellew.

Cleverly had won the first meeting—staged at the 175-pound limit— in 2011. But, in moving up in weight, he played right into Bellew's hands. With no issues on the scales, the Englishman, stronger in the ring and no longer sapped of stamina, came out on top via a split-decision points triumph on Nov. 22, 2014.

A third fight between the duo was suggested in the immediate aftermath, but such talk died down quickly. Instead, Cleverly moved back down to light heavyweight.

His comeback at the weight saw him beat Tomas Man in the blink of an eye, but that was hardly ideal preparation for the brutal battle he had with Andrzej Fonfara on Oct. 16, 2015, in Chicago. The two warriors combined to throw more than 2,500 punches over 12 absorbing rounds, per CompuBox stats.

At the end, the visiting fighter (while he's from Poland, Fonfara is based in Chicago) suffered a points defeat.

Cleverly left the ring with a broken nose but also with plenty of praise ringing in his slightly swollen ears.

Fonfara said of his foe, per BritishBoxers.co.uk: "I thought I would knock him out before the fight, but during the fight I realised he has great defence. I had no idea he could take so many punches and still be in the fight. I realised it would be very hard to knock him out. I respect him very much."

However, Cleverly also climbed out between the ropes as the loser, leaving him stuck in light heavyweight no-man’s land after going to war.

The Press Association pointed out in its report (h/t the Guardian): "The fight, for the WBC international light heavyweight title, was regarded by both men as a steppingstone to bigger things, and it remains to be seen where defeat leaves the former WBO world champion Cleverly."

Cleverly is still yet to make his next move. The man who gained a degree in mathematics from Cardiff University has to calculate which way to turn in a division dominated by two men.

Kovalev has the IBF and WBA Super titles in his possession, as well as Cleverly’s old WBO strap. The WBC’s champion, meanwhile, is Adonis Stevenson. Those two are the clear-cut stars.

The boxing world would like them to go toe-to-toe sooner rather than later, but instead they keep dancing around each other. Talks seem to be progressing about as well as an Olympic swimmer trying to do lengths through a pool filled with custard.

That leaves Cleverly with one clear option—Juergen Braehmer, the WBA’s regular champion.

There is history between them.

They were due to meet in May 2011, only for Braehmer—holder of the WBO strap at the time—to back out at late notice because of injury. After beating late replacement Aleksy Kuziemski instead, Cleverly was promoted from his position of interim champion.

Move forward four years and a deal seemed to be done for the two to finally face each other in 2015. Cleverly said, per Wales Online: "Terms have been agreed."

But, once again, it failed to happen.

Then, when the German Braehmer suddenly needed an opponent to replace Thomas Oosthuizen for the next defence of his WBA crown in his homeland on March 12, Cleverly told Danny Flexen of Boxing News:

If they want it, let’s do it. Eddie Hearn contacted me late last night and said the Sauerlands had contacted him. I’ve been ticking over, simmering, waiting for that phone call and I want it, six weeks’ notice is fine. I am currently at my training weight of around 190lbs but I can easily drop that weight [to the light-heavy limit of 175lbs] in one week if need be, it’s quite straightforward for me. I’m fit, I’ve started sparring, I’m in decent shape.

However, the champion instead picked Eduard Gutknecht, an opponent he has already beaten before. Braehmer went for the easier option, which shouldn't come as a surprise. He is able to boast a 47-2 (35 KOs) pro record thanks to some careful planning.

Cleverly, meanwhile, is left to look elsewhere. Per Fight News, he is ranked outside the top 10 by all the major governing bodies.

When he blew out the candles on his birthday cake, his wish should have been for a big fight to come along in 2016.

Perhaps the Braehmer bout does finally happen. Maybe Cleverly tries his luck and goes against Kovalev again, or Stevenson makes an offer that is too good to refuse.

The dormant Welsh dragon still has time on his side to breathe life into his career—all he needs is the right opponent to target.

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Sergey Kovalev lords over the light heavyweight division. He holds the WBA, WBO and IBF world light heavyweight titles, and he's Ring Magazine's No. 1 light heavyweight and No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer behind flyweight Roman Gonzalez. 

Fans are clamoring for the 32-year-old to take on the likes of Andre Ward or Adonis Stevenson, but so far, neither dream bout has materialized. Instead, Kovalev's next fight is a retread against Canadian star Jean Pascal, a boxer he defeated handily less than a year ago.

True to his nickname, Krusher defeated Pascal via eighth-round TKO back in March 2015. Pascal made a few inroads against Kovalev in the bout, but the knockout artist was operating at a higher level and had the Quebecois puncher practically out on his feet by the time the official stepped in to call the fight.

Pascal, now training with Freddie Roach, will get another chance on Saturday to knock Kovalev off his pedestal, but it will take an incredibly sharp performance to pull off that feat. Here's the fight time and viewing info for the light heavyweight scrap.

Kovalev-Pascal 2: Fight Time, Viewing Info

When: Saturday, Jan. 30 at 9:45 p.m. ET/PT

Where: Bell Centre in Montreal

TV: HBO

Live Stream: BoxNation (UK only, subscription required)

Each boxer has had just one bout since their first matchup, on the same card at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas on July 25. Kovalev took care of Nadjib Mohammedi with a third-round KO, while Pascal edged out Yunieski Gonzalez for a controversial unanimous-decision win, 96-94 on all three judges' cards, per BoxRec. 

Their forms and abilities hardly appear to be converging. Oddsmakers aren't giving the 33-year-old Pascal much of a chance in this one. According to Odds Shark, the line on Pascal is 10-1, while Kovalev is a massive 1-25 favorite.

Pascal is a good athlete who can move well and string together powerful combos, but Kovalev is patient enough to thwart most attacks and lethal enough to stun with only a few strikes. 

The hope for Pascal comes from his newfound relationship with Roach, who has laid out a new strategy for the 33-year-old, per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times.

His left hand is almost as good as his right. He has to box. I told him, "You look for the knockout, you’re going to get knocked out again. You have to outbox this guy one round at a time. But you can’t go in there thinking you’re going to knock out a puncher. Why fight his game?"

Considering Kovalev was superior for much of their previous matchup, an overhaul of the fight tactics makes quite a bit of sense. There's little value in going toe-to-toe with Kovalev, as his awesome power will get to you before you can get to him.

Kovalev is a first-rate slugger with an awesome chin. Pascal is a tough out, as few fighters have lasted into the later rounds against Kovalev, but he can't match Krusher's power. It's better for Pascal to try to make his considerable chin last a full fight while getting his shots in from the outside. When Kovalev has had to chase boxers, it usually doesn't last long. He's not often tested in the later rounds. 

All that said, Pascal did just go to a decision with Gonzalez, and his work rate wasn't all that impressive compared to his opponent's. Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ noted Pascal's own struggles with stamina during the bout: 

Even the CompuBox stats for this fight had little to separate the two fighters, though Gonzalez (16-1, 13 KO) did have a solid advantage in power shots landed. Both guys were wobbled at various points, though never in any serious danger, and the fight was a real war of attrition, as Gonzalez came out fast and ran himself out of gas by the sixth round or so, and Pascal, never known for great stamina down the stretch of a grueling fight, was also looking winded as the bout came to a close.

It could be that the Haiti-born boxer isn't capable of dancing around Kovalev without making a fatal mistake due to fatigue or, more likely, the aftereffects of a dizzying strike.

Considering the Russian's power and accuracy, expecting Pascal to outbox him for a full 12 rounds is a tall order. Kovalev potentially has bigger and better fights on the horizon. He should be highly motivated to take out Pascal early, and an aggressive approach could thwart Pascal's plans before he has a chance to put them in motion.

A light heavyweight doubleheader is on tap when Premier Boxing Champions on Spike returns on Friday, November 13.

Edwin "La Bomba" Rodriguez (27-1, 18 KO) takes on the undefeated Michael Seals (19-0, 14 KO) in the featured bout of the card at Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi. With just one loss between the two in their professional careers—and a combined knockout percentage of 68 percent—this one could have some fireworks.

In the co-feature, two more light heavyweights will do battle. Thomas "Top Dog" Williams Jr. (18-1, 12 KO) faces Humberto Savigne (12-2, 9 KO). After a disappointing performance against Gabriel Campillo in a loss via retirement back in August 2014, Williams is on the comeback trail.

The 36-year-old Savigne is the type of opponent tailor-made for a fighter rebuilding his confidence. 

He lost his last bout via second-round TKO against Craig Baker in February. Perhaps Savigne can provide adequate opposition for Williams. If the 28-year-old Maryland native is to be taken seriously as a light heavyweight contender, he needs to make a statement against the likes of Savigne.

More than likely, this one should be a one-sided beatdown for as long as it lasts. Here's how you can watch the action.

When: Friday, November 13, at 9 p.m. ET

Where: Beau Rivage Resort and Casino in Biloxi, Mississippi

TV: Spike

Looking for a Title Shot

Rodriguez could be aligning himself for a shot at a share of the 175-pound world titles. After he handed Baker his first professional loss via third-round TKO in May, Rodriguez said, per the PBC broadcast: "I'm looking for a title fight right now." 

He didn't get it in his next fight, but a win over Seals could be the victory he needs to secure a second shot at a world championship. He had one previous shot at a world title back in November 2013 against then-WBA super middleweight champion Andre Ward.

The 30-year-old Rodriguez lost a lopsided unanimous decision in that bout. It was his first and only defeat as a professional. He's now campaigning as a light heavyweight and chasing WBC champion Adonis Stevenson and, to some degree, WBO, WBA and IBF titleholder Sergey Kovalev.

The former is a seemingly more attainable fight because both men are currently under the Showtime/PBC banner. Should Rodriguez win on Friday, it wouldn't be surprising if an agreement between him and Stevenson was made shortly thereafter.

Seals' Chance to Show and Prove

The record is sparkling, but the competition Seals has faced in his career to this point has been underwhelming. The 33-year-old will be in the first fight of his career scheduled for more than eight rounds.

Beating a fighter like Rodriguez could make him a legitimate top-10-ranked light heavyweight. With that ranking, the door to bigger fights would be opened.

In his last fight, Seals won a six-round unanimous decision over Carlos Reyes in March. The decision snapped a streak of eight consecutive wins by KO/TKO. Six of those wins came via first-round stoppage. There's no questioning his power, but with the level of competition ramped up, Seals will likely need to show more than savage power to remain unbeaten.

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As he walked to the ring to face Andrzej Fonfara in Chicago, Illinois, Nathan Cleverly needed to answer questions about just where his career was going.

A former world champion at light heavyweight, the Welshman had lost his way since being “Krushed” by Sergey Kovalev in 2013.

There is no disgrace in losing to someone with Kovalev’s power. But, the end of a 26-fight winning streak started a downturn for Cleverly that left some wondering if he would ever rise again.

He reacted to the fourth-round loss to the American-based Russian in Cardiff, Wales, by stepping up to cruiserweight.

The move was a gamble—and it failed to pay off.

There were two comfortable victories to start with at the higher limit, but a points loss to longtime rival Tony Bellew signalled a quick switch back down to 175 pounds.

Since losing for a second time, Cleverly had seen 24 seconds of action. He flattened Tomas Man with a body shot in May—the solitary punch told us nothing about his state of mind or his future potential.

So, when he left his dressing room at the UIC Pavilion on Friday night to face Fonfara, no one quite knew what to expect from the man nicknamed Clev.

His opponent was less of an unknown quantity. The Pole held the WBC International belt and had only been beaten once since the summer of 2008, with that solitary defeat during that period coming at the hands of Adonis Stevenson. Even then, he managed to take Superman the distance, losing on points.

Fonfara's win over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. in April had seen his stock continue to rise.

Cleverly, in contrast, had quickly become yesterday’s man. At the ripe old age of 28, he was in danger of falling off the light heavyweight landscape and being consigned to the boxing fan's memory bank.

After 12 absorbing rounds, however, he was suddenly in the spotlight again. Despite losing on points, Cleverly showed he still has plenty left in the tank, both mentally and physically.

The 28-year-old played his part in a genuine contender for fight of the year, as was the verdict of several boxing experts on Twitter:

The numbers were barely believable. According to CompuBox stats, the duo landed 936 of the 2,524 punches they threw at each other.

Fonfara hit the target with one notable blow in particular, breaking his opponent’s nose during the middle rounds.

You didn’t need to be a doctor to work out what had happened to the challenger, with Cleverly's nose expanding at a similar rate as Greece's national debt. Promoter Eddie Hearn later confirmed on Twitter Cleverly also needed to visit the hospital to have blood drained from a damaged ear.

The battle scars will remain for a while before eventually healing. What should hurt Cleverly for a little while longer is the thought of what could have been had he only done things a little differently.

The tone was set for a war in the opening minutes, and neither man backed down.

Yet, despite the desire to trade, there were points in the first half of the bout when Cleverly controlled proceedings behind his jab.

He would occasionally opt to box at length, leading accurately with the left to set up the straight right. Fonfara felt the straight right, too, smiling and nodding in appreciation on the occasions when it caught him.

But Cleverly simply couldn’t resist in getting involved in a tear-up. It was almost as if he had to prove a point, so he stood and fought, rather than punching and moving.

His courage under fire was admirable, but for someone with a degree in mathematics, it didn’t add up.

Fonfara is a good, solid fighter, but he has his limitations. He is very durable, yet far from dynamic. His head movement is minimal, plus he works in short bursts before retreating back behind a high defence.

The best way to show up his deficiencies? Certainly not standing and trading with him like toy Rock 'em Sock 'em Robots.

Cleverly proved he still had the stomach for a fight with his choice of tactics. He has worked in the same method previously, refusing to back down from Bellew in their rematch in 2014.

But, had he used his head a little more (not literally, of course), he may well have returned home with more than just bumps and bruises as his badges of honour.

Cleverly had taken a punt in choosing to fight Fonfara in the first place.

He had rejected the opportunity to fight Juergen Braehmer in Germany for the WBA title, telling Sky Sports that he believed taking on Fonfara was a “bigger fight” at this stage.

The offer to go up against Braehmer may come back around again—but Cleverly has also suggested the possibility of doing it all over again with Fonfara:

A rematch, perhaps on British soil in the early stages of 2016, could produce another cracker.

If Cleverly commits to his boxing a little more, he might be the one who comes out on top the second time around.