Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Fight Card and TV Schedule for October 16
In the main event of Premier Boxing Champions on Spike TV on Friday night, Andrzej Fonfara (27-3, 16 KO) will face former light heavyweight champion Nathan "Clev" Cleverly (29-2, 15 KO) at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago. Fonfara was born in Warsaw, Poland, but he resides in the Windy City.
Both men have designs on moving toward a shot at a world championship. Winning in Friday's main event could set the winner up for an opportunity to fight for the gold.
In the co-feature, Tokyo, Japan's Kohei Kono (30-8-1, 13 KO) will defend his WBA super flyweight title against his countryman Koki Kameda (33-1, 18 KO).
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When: Friday, October 16, at 9 p.m. ET
Where: UIC Pavilion in Chicago, Illinois
TV: Spike
Gimme Fonfara
After losing his title to Sergey Kovalev in a one-sided beatdown that ended in a fourth-round TKO back in August 2013, Cleverly has been trying to rebuild his career and get back to the top of the division.
There have been some mixed results on his latest conquest. He's 3-1 with each win coming by way of stoppage, but he also lost a split decision to Tony Bellew in November 2014. All three of Cleverly's wins came over nondescript competition. The fight with Fonfara represents a return to facing big-time competition.
Per Sky Sports, the 28-year-old Cleverly had an opportunity to fight for a title but instead chose a bout with Fonfara. He talked about the thought process in making this decision:
"I was presented with the opportunity to fight Juergen Braehmer in Germany for the WBA world title.
I had my heart set on that fight, I was looking forward to that fight. It was a chance for me to become world champion again.
Then my promoter came back to me a few weeks later with the opportunity to fight Andrzej Fonfara in America, in Chicago. …
So ultimately, I just feel fighting here in America on this big stage, I just feel it was too much of a big opportunity to turn away.
I declined the world title fight and I believe this is a bigger fight. It's probably a more difficult fight but it's on a bigger platform. It's in the States and I like fighting here, so let's do it.
"
Apparently, Clev isn't necessarily looking for an easy fight, but that won't keep Fonfara from using the challenge as bulletin board material.
Be Careful What You Ask For
Fonfara is no slouch. He's proven that in each of his last three fights. Back in April, he became the first man to floor and stop Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. In November 2014, in a fight that took place at the UIC Pavilion, Fonfara outpointed Doudou Ngumbu. The fight before that, Fonfara dropped WBC light heavyweight champion Adonis Stevenson but lost a unanimous decision.
The 27-year-old wants respect, and he obviously doesn't believe Cleverly is giving him his due by bypassing a shot at Braehmer to face him. Per George Gigney of BoxingNewsOnline.net, Fonfara said: “Maybe he thinks I'm more popular and easier [than Braehmer]. Or he might want to put on a show on American TV [Spike televise]. But he’s made a big mistake."
Boosted by the energy from what figures to be a large Polish contingent, Fonfara will be looking to make Cleverly wish he was in Germany.
Super Flyweight Brawl
Some fight fans find it difficult to get into bouts with smaller fighters. If that's you, you may be set to miss a thrilling championship bout in Chicago.
Kono is in his second stint as WBA champion, and Friday's bout will be his second defense. The 34-year-old's career has been an exhibition of perseverance. He didn't win his first world title until his second attempt. He lost it in his first defense of his initial reign and also endured a three-fight losing streak from 2010-11.
He rebounded to decision Denkaosan Kaovichit in March 2014 to win the vacant WBA title. Kono held on to the belt after drawing with Norberto Jimenez in December 2014.
Kameda is a grizzled and decorated veteran. He's a three-time world champion who most recently held the WBA bantamweight title before vacating it in 2013. Inactivity could be an issue for Kameda, as he's fought only twice in the last two years.
When he's right, he has participated in some epic slugfests with the likes of Jung-Oh Son and David De La Mora. Fight fans will be hoping to see another Kameda classic on Friday night.
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