Cleverly beats Braehmer to become two-time world champion
Nathan Cleverly (30-3, 16 KOs) beat defending champion Juergen Braehmer (48-3, 35 KOs) to win the WBA light heavyweight title on Saturday night at the Jahnsportforum in Neubrandenburg, Germany.
Cleverly threw nonstop punches throughout the fight before Braehmer pulled out after the 6th round due to suffering a dislocated right elbow.
With the win, Cleverly, who lost the WBO belt when Sergey Kovalev stopped him in 2013, claimed his second world title.
The Welshman took the fight to Braehmer from the opening bell. He backed up the German veteran, unleashing several blows but Braehmer was blocking a lot of them and was landing some shots of his own.
The toe-to-toe battle continued in the fifth through to the sixth with Braehmer the more accurate and Cleverly relentless in his work-rate.
The close fight looked set for an exciting second half until Braehmer pulled out citing the injury.
Cleverly said: "I'm very grateful for Juergen Braehmer giving me shot at title, and if he wants a rematch we have a rematch clause. I broke him up the first six rounds and it was inevitable what was going to happen, but if he wants a rematch I will do it."