Nathan Cleverly: 'I will take Sergey Kovalev apart'

WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has claimed that his work rate will see him beat Sergey Kovalev.

The unbeaten Welshman, who will take on the Russian knock-out specialist on August 17, admits that his opponent's record of stopping 19 of his 22 opponents is impressive, but the 26-year-old is confident of victory.

"His record is scary reading," Cleverly told reporters. "It's just KO after KO. It's not an easy fight by any stretch of the imagination.

"I've picked the hardest puncher in the division. He's a massive puncher, but when he loads up, he'll leave me openings and I'll take this guy apart.

"He's never been in with someone like me who'll throw six, seven, eight punch combinations and fight at a relentless pace from the first to the last round. He'll be shaken and stirred after he's been in with me, that's for sure."

Cleverly takes on Kovalev in Cardiff on August 17.