Nathan Cleverly claimed victory over Juergen Braehmer on Saturday October 1, claiming the WBA regular light-heavyweight title after his opponent pulled out midway with injury.
Ahead of the seventh round in Neubrandenburg, Braehmer’s corner withdrew him with a dislocated right elbow.
Cleverly, from Cefn Fforest, now holds a world title for the first time since losing the WBO light-heavyweight title to Russian Sergey Kovalev in August 2013.
The 29-year-old has struggled to regain form and composure since that defeat – the first of his career – and was guilty of trying to finish the fight from the first bell, with a gameplan which placed stamina at its heart serving him well in the opening round but seemed ultimately unsustainable.
Braehmer boxed the smarter in the following two rounds, landing some heavy blows on the Welshman.
Cleverly’s superior size and solid chin took the force of Braehmer’s left glove, and had success of his own with some well-placed body shots and an impressive work-rate.
After an uneventful sixth round, the 37-year-old German signalled he would not continue, holding his elbow as he congratulated Cleverly’s corner.
Cleverly becomes the first Welsh boxer to lose and regain a world title at the same weight, although he only holds the WBA’s secondary belt.
His 2013 opponent Kovalev, is the WBA’s “super” champion due to also holding the WBO and IBF light-heavyweight titles.