One of Europe’s top stars, WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion Nathan Cleverly will put his unbeaten record and world championship belt on the line against South Dakota’s Shawn “The Sioux Warrior” Hawk this Saturday night at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, Calif.
The 12-round world title fight will air live as part of the SHOWTIME EXTREME® broadcast along with a clash between junior welterweight prospects Antonio Orozco and Danny Escobar before the tripleheader headlined by the WBC Super Bantamweight World Championship matchup between Abner Mares and Anselmo Moreno begins at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.
Already a star in the United Kingdom, 25-year-old Nathan Cleverly (24-0, 11 KO’s) returns to fight in the United States for the first time since 2008 and hopes to follow in the footsteps of his Welsh countryman Joe Calzaghe in making a mark on the international stage. The WBO Light Heavyweight World Champion since 2010, Cleverly has defended his title three times, most recently with a 12 round win over Tommy Karpency in February.
28-year old Shawn Hawk (22-2-1, 16 KO’s) has been boxing since the age of seven and after winning over 100 amateur fights, he made the move to the pros in 2004. Fighting at cruiserweight and heavyweight before finding a home at 175 pounds, Hawk has won five of his last six fights, including consecutive wins over Rubin Williams, Otis Griffin and Henry Buchanan. This weekend, he attempts to win world championship gold against Cleverly.
Rapidly improving with each fight, 25-year-old Antonio Orozco (15-0, 11 KO’s) is on the verge of a breakthrough performance that he hopes will take place this Saturday. Already 3-0 in 2012, with each win coming by knockout, the San Diego native will be bringing his hometown fans to STAPLES Center to cheer him on to victory this Saturday night.
Also hoping his fans will help lift him to victory will be Riverside’s Danny Escobar (8-1, 5 KO’s). A professional since 2008, the 23-year-old has handed defeats to two unbeaten prospects in his most recent fights, decisioning then 21-0 Jose Emilio Perea last November and defeating then 4-0 Abner Lopez in March by decision as well.
Also in non-televised action on Saturday night will be young undefeated prospects Chris Pearson, Zachary Wohlman, Isaac Torres, Robert Easter and Luis Arias.
