Cleverly pulls out of title fight

Nathan Cleverly has been forced to pull out of his WBO light-heavyweight title defence next weekend because of a viral infection.

The Welshman was due to face Robin Krasniqi at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Saturday, April 28, but his management company Frank Warren Promotions confirmed he has been unable to train.

Billy Joe Saunders' fight for the vacant English middleweight title against Tony Hill will now move to joint top of the bill alongside the British lightweight title eliminator between Sam Webb and Matthew Hall.

Cleverly said: "I've been unable to train because I've been laid up in bed with a viral infection and there's not enough time to make up what I've missed in training to make sure I'm fully fit.

"I've taken the advice of my doctor and been told to fully rest before attempting to start training again.

"I'm really disappointed because I was looking forward to being the first fighter to bring boxing back to the Royal Albert Hall in over a decade and the first of the century."

Cleverly's last defence - his third - was a points victory over American Tommy Karpency in Cardiff on February 25.