Classy Cleverly eases to second-round win.

Byline: David Williams

NATHAN Cleverly retained his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title with a second-round stoppage victory over Billy Boyle at the York Hall in Bethnal Green last night.

The 22-year-old from Cefn Fforest totally dominated the contest and was teeing off at will when Boyle's trainer Glyn Rhodes threw in the towel forcing referee Marcus McDonnell to stop the fight.

The win took Cleverly's unbeaten record to 16 fights and also earned him his third consecutive stoppage win, further boosting his belief that he is gaining more power as his career progresses.

Cleverly, who will next challenge Danny McIntosh for the British title in July, told Sky Sports: "It just goes to show my power is improving. My first uppercut nearly lifted him off his feet and his corner made the right decision.

"I've been knocking on the door for a while for that British title, and that British title is going to be mine in July."

Floyd Mayweather fears Ricky Hatton will never be the same fighter following his two knockout defeats and must retire immediately.

Hatton crashed to his first career loss to Mayweather two years ago, succumbing in the 10th, and was battered inside two rounds by Manny Pacquiao earlier this month.

No decision has been made on Hatton's future but Mayweather, who meets Juan Manuel Marquez in Las Vegas on July 18, has urged him to hang up his gloves.

"Ricky's career was over in 2007 when he met me," said Mayweather.

"He was a gutsy, tough champ but there's a time in every boxer's career when they must hang it up.

"He was knocked out bad twice - by me and Pacquiao. They were two devastating defeats. He's been in a lot of tough fights and taken some big shots.

"I don't think Ricky should fight again. I wouldn't fight him again, even at Wembley.

"It would be like picking on a guy that we call 'gun-shot, gun-shot'.

"Once you've been knocked out in the way he was by me, it's always in the back of your mind that it can happen again. His head won't be the same."

Mayweather rejected criticism of his decision to fight Marquez by claiming the Mexican should have beaten Pacquiao.

In two contests against Pacquiao he drew the first and dropped a controversial split decision in the second, yet over both contests won more rounds on the judges' scorecard.

Marquez has made his name at lightweight, which has a limit of 135lbs, while the fight with Mayweather will be at 143 pounds.

"I believe Marquez beat Manny twice. Marquez is a warrior and a great Mexican champion," said Mayweather.

"He's beaten Marco Antonio Barrera, was knocked down by Manny but got up. In his two fights with Manny he won more rounds.

"He's smart. It's not a weight thing. Everybody's forgetting where I came from in weight - I started a lot lower than 143."

CAPTION(S):

Nathan Cleverly defended his Commonwealth light-heavyweight title with a second-round stoppage of Billy Boyle