Badou Jack set off the night for Mayweather Promotions with a 5th round stoppage via TKO of Nathan Cleverly to win the WBA light heavyweight title. Jack dominated the fight from start to finish and it was becoming clear as the fight progressed that the referee might have to jump in.
“I wanted to box him and feel him out while establishing my jab,” said Jack. “Then the plan was to break him down from there. The plan was to finish him.”
Cleverly couldn’t avoid the barrage of uppercuts, hooks, and combinations that Jack put together expertly and referee Tony Weeks put a halt to the contest at 2:47 in the 5th round. Cleverly was disappointed but it was definitely the right thing to do.
“I thought the stoppage was premature,” said Cleverly. “He had just swung and missed but it’s up to the referee in the end. I have to respect that decision. I’ll re-evaluate. I have a lot of miles left in me. I’m a two-time world champion. I have to take it from here and decide where I go.
Jack immediately expressed his desire to fight current light heavyweight juggernaut Andre Ward or Adonis Stevenson who both hold the remaining major light heavyweight belts.
I think Adonis Stevenson (is next) lets get it on. Unless you want a trilogy with Andrzej Fonfara, lets get it on. Lets fight somebody real. Id go anywhere.
