CEFN Fforest light heavyweight Nathan Cleverly overwhelmed opponent Billy Boyle to retain his Commonwealth Light Heavyweight title and remain an undefeated champion at London’s historic York Hall last night.

Cleverly, the undefeated former protégé of the Team Calzaghe gym, 22, can now legitimately look at himself as one of the most promising fighters in British boxing after getting through a banana skin of a fight with a minimum of fuss.

Cleverly, the Cardiff University mathematics student, is already tipped for the top after beginning his career as a first choice sparring partner for super middleweight king Joe Calzaghe.

However, Cleverly is increasingly looking like the real deal in his own right after demolishing Boyle within six minutes of their live Sky Sports clash.

On paper, this contest was one between a boxer and a brawler, Cleverly with everything to lose against a more agricultural but no less dangerous opponent.

However, there is only so bad a fighter can look when he overwhelms his opponent as Cleverly did on Friday evening, the master of angles and equations doing more than enough to justify what was a controversial decision from Boyle’s corner to throw in the towel within the first two rounds.

Cleverly, who is now poised to enter the British title scene at light heavy (his next fight to be for the strap), was always a class above his foe, despite the fact that the Welshman was no favourite with the partisan English crowd.

Boyle was looking for a closely fought brawl, but Cleverly wisely didn’t engage in the slugfest he had promised and kept his maturing frame at a distance from his more limited opponent.

It proved a wise strategy in the first round, Cleverly using his height and reach advantage to full effect to clearly win the round.

There was no doubt that Cleverly dominated the opening three minutes, looking fit and ripped as he outboxed and frankly outclassed his opponent.

In the second round Cleverly beat and dominated Boyle, though the manner of Cleverly’s victory will iterate the boxing purist as referee Marcus McDonald stopped the contest with two minutes and 27 seconds gone, Boyle answering little to a Cleverly onslaught but in truth not looking like being stopped outright.

Cleverly stated afterwards that he thought Boyle’s corner stopped the contest by throwing in the towel, a verdict endorsed by Boyle’s trainer post-fight (the fighter objecting to the decision), but the referee seemed to be waving off the contest himself.

Boyle was up amongst Cleverly’s best opponents to date and the Welshman was rightly confident for the future after his third stoppage win in succession.

Delighted with his victory, Cleverly vowed to continue his fine recent form, which has taken him to 16-0.

Just two days on from an exam in Numerical Solutions, Cleverly insisted he is not letting his new high profile get into his mind.

He explained: “It was a tough fight but it went perfectly to plan against a big hitter.

“I am delighted with a third successful defence, I planned to jab and as soon as he showed I hurt him with an uppercut and his corner had seen enough.”

Cleverly will next be in action challenging for the British title against Danny McIntosh, a clash set for Norwich on July 18.

He explained: “I have been knocking on the door for a British title for a while, I was meant to be fighting Dean Francis twice and now I am ready, the British title will be mine in July for sure.”

Promoter Frank Warren was quick to tip his man for the top after another comprehensive win.

“He is looking good isn’t he?” he said.

“He looks good, he’s learning every fight and I think if he continues doing what he is good at, he can go all the way.”