By Terence Dooley

Nathan Cleverly has blasted WBO light-heavyweight title holder Juergen Braehmer after the German withdrew from Saturday night's Sky PPV clash due to an eye injury suffered in training.  Braehmer's injury occurred ten days ago, the German is said to have hoped that the wound would heal in time for the fight only for the champion to pull out just days before the contest was due to take place.

"I am absolutely devastated. This is the fight that I really wanted, I've been gunning for Juergen Braehmer for over a year now.  It's very unprofessional that he hasn't turned up, he hasn't arrived, he's ducked out for the fight as far as I am concerned.  He's got the world title, he was the champion, I badly wanted to get this guy into the ring and win the title in style.  He doesn't want to fight me, he's been ducking me and the proof is there now that he doesn't want the fight," blasted Cleverly when speaking to Sky Sports News earlier today.

Promoter Frank Warren is scrambling to find Cleverly an opponent and secure a full WBO title for his charge in the wake of news that Juergen has been stripped of his crown by the WBO.  The 21-0 (10) Welshman is joint headliner on Saturday night, the Braehmer blow now means that James DeGale's British super-middleweight title fight with George Groves will take even greater prominence on the O2 Arena bill unless Cleverly nets an opponent for his first defence of the full WBO belt.

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