Cleverly pulls out of Krasniqi fight

Nathan Cleverly has had to pull out of his WBO light-heavyweight title defence against Robin Krasniqi, later this month, because of a viral infection.

The 25-year-old Welshman has been unable to train for the fight, which would have been the fourth defence of his crown, and a huge drawfor fans of sports betting.

He was scheduled to fight Krasniqi at London’s Royal Albert Hall on 28th April: "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."

It is not yet clear whether the fight will be rearranged, or whether Cleverly will have to face the WBO's mandatory challenger, the Russian Dmitry Sukhotsky.

Cleverly, who remains unbeaten during his professional career, having won all 24 of his bouts, remains keen to fight Bernard Hopkins in the summer.

Hopkins is scheduled to fight Chad Dawson in Atlantic City, on 28th April, in a world light-heavyweight title rematch.

The two boxers were involved in a controversial fight, six months ago, when Hopkins landed awkwardly on the edge of the ring in the second round, after being shoved to the canvas by Dawson.

Hopkins sustained what was later diagnosed as a dislocation of the joint connecting his left shoulder to his collarbone, and the fight was eventually declared a no-decision.