Oakey: Experience will be key
by Mark Doyle, 07 October 2008
Tony Oakey believes that his greater experience will prove decisive Friday night’s meeting with Nathan Cleverly for the vacant Commonwealth light-heavyweight title.
Undefeated Welshman Cleverly is just 21 but is considered one of the most exciting young talents in Britain.
Oakey has nothing but respect for his young rival but the 32-year-old Englishman believes that he will have too much savvy for Cleverly.
"I won the Commonwealth title after a similar number of fights, so I know just how hungry Cleverly will be," Oakey stated.
"He's young and his fresh and he's got good wins on his record he'll be dangerous.
"Nathan is the up-and-coming fighter, but I have proved myself many times before and I'll do so again on Friday night.
"I'm not taking anything for granted though because as soon as you step through the ropes into a professional boxing ring then you get my respect."
Oakey is going into the bout on the back of a shock stoppage defeat at the hands of Dean Francis in June and he is determined to get his career back on track with a win over Cleverly.
"He [Francis] caught me with a great shot and I did well to get up at all," he said of the loss.
"Funnily enough, the defeat was easier to swallow than my losses against Peter Haymer and Matthew Barney, where I believe I was robbed.
"Beating Cleverly will give me the chance to fight Francis again, and that's what I want.
"I've still got a lot left in the tank, and I've still got ambitions to fight for a European and world title.
"I'm concentrating on Cleverly and not looking too far ahead, but there is a lot at stake on Friday night."