Cleverly-Bellew II all but set after Liverpool wins

ByEurosport

Published 13/07/2014 at 03:35 GMT

Tony Bellew and Nathan Cleverly are still on collision course for their rematch later this year, as the two cruiserweights both earned stoppage wins in stay-busy fights in Liverpool.

Tony Bellew, Nathan Cleverly (AFP)

Image credit: AFP

Bellew (22-2-2, 13 KO) stopped Brazil's Julio Cesar Dos Santos (26-3, 23 KO) in the fifth round, while Cleverly (28-1, 14 KO) put away Argentina's Alejandro Emilio Valori (15-5, 11 KO) in just four rounds.

The two are now expected to face off again later this year.

In October 2011, Cleverly beat Bellew via disputed and competitive majority decision, successfully defending his WBO light heavyweight title belt.

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The pair now compete one division up after knockout defeats in world title fights last year.

Cleverley lost the WBO title to Sergey Kovalev in August before Tony Bellew came up short in his challenge of Adonis Stevenson.

Also, Olympic gold medallist and English heavyweight prospect Anthony Joshua improved to 7-0 (7 KO) with a second round stoppage of 47-year-old Matt Skelton (28-9, 23 KO).

Skelton is Joshua’s first victim of any real name value, though there remain a number of obstacles on the London 2012 star’s journey towards establishing himself as a professional threat.

Other results from the Liverpool card

Anthony Ogogo TKO-5 Wayne Reed

Stephen Smith PTS-8 Pedro Navarrete

Luke Campbell PTS-6 Craig Woodruff

Rocky Fielding TKO-5 Noe Gonzalez

Callum Smith UD-10 Vladine Biosse

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