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Boxing brainbox Nathan Cleverly met his match when he came head-to-head with former Countdown queen Carol Vorderman in the ring. The Cardiff University Maths graduate, who’s preparing for his homecoming WBO light heavyweight world title defence on February 25 at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena, didn’t do his homework, though, and got Vorderman to put on the gloves instead at London’s famous Peacock Gym this week.
Two mathletes together as Vorderman (MA) hits the mitts of Cleverly (BSc). Credit: Richard Pelham
Loose Women presenter Vorderman, an Honorary Fellow at Cardiff Uni, got ahead on the scorecards when she nearly KO’d Cleverly – who’s never been floored in 23 fights – in a stunning red dress and killer heels before starting their session.
Cleverly got her in the ring and put her through her paces, with the feisty Welsh TV star unleashing some impressive power-packed punches. Vorderman said: “I enjoy a bit of boxing and I might take it up properly now. Watch out the Loose Women!
“I wouldn’t mind having a few rounds with Janet Street Porter some days, but she’s bigger than me and I’d get flattened by round two, so maybe that’s not such a good idea after all!”
On Cleverly, she said: “I think Nathan is an incredible young man. To gain a Maths degree, which is a difficult option, is hard enough. He hasn’t come from a privileged background, he has done it all himself. To do that while training as hard as he did is the sign of a champ.
A big boxing fan, Vorderman said she will be sitting ringside on the night to give Cleverly plenty of support against his American challenger Tommy Karpency. She added: “I’ve watched a lot of fights on telly and always wanted to go and see one live and I’m really excited that I’m going to be ringside cheering for Nathan in his world title fight.
“I like watching a good fight and I’m really interested to see what it’s like to be there up close. Now that I’ve met Nathan and he’s a lovely person and I hope he wins. He is a young man with a big brain and a great talent and I wish that his every dream comes true.”
Unbeaten Cleverly, 24, one of Britain’s two only world champions, said: “Carol can certainly whack… I can’t imagine any on of her guests getting out of line with her on Loose Women!
“Unfortunately my maths has taken a back seat since I graduated because I’m now fully focused on training and I didn’t have time to swot up with my maths books before meeting her so I thought I’d get her in the ring instead to make it more even!
“She can bang, her right hand carries a fair bit of power and close up her hooks and uppercuts are pretty hefty, she can be a right handful if she had more training.”
He added: “It’s great that she will be ringside on fight night at the Motorpoint Arena to give me her support. The show is going really well and is close to selling out which is fantastic for my first fight back in Wales in over four years.”
Remaining tickets can be purchased from the Motorpoint Arena Box Office on 02920 224 488 or online here. Cleverly’s WBO title defence at 175lbs against Karpency can be seen live and exclusive on BoxNation on Saturday, February 25.
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