WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly (25-0, 12 KOs) stopped game Shawn Hawk (22-3-1, 16 KOs) in round eight at The Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

Round one featured a lot of jabbing as both fighters felt each other rout. Cleverly, slightly taller, started firing his right hand near the two-minute mark. The punched landed a half dozen times. Hawk crouched but didn’t do very much.

In round two, Hawk went to the body. Cleverly countered back with own left hook. He pushed Hawk into the ropes and unloaded. Cleverly continued to be the busier fighter. He landed another sharp combination at the bell.

Cleverly kept forcing the action in round three. A left hook hurt Hawk. His activity rate was overwhelming Hawk at times. Hawk kept fighting back, but his counters were having no effect on Cleverly.

Hawk came out faster in round four. He landed a double left hook and right hand. Cleverly pursued Hawk to the ropes and worked him over. Hawk fought back with a strong right hand. Cleverly landed to the head and body.

Cleverly lowered his hands and raked Hawk over with right hands in round five. Hawk was a step slower. He looked discouraged. Cleverly was feeling his oats. In round six, Cleverly landed two sneaky right hands. Hawk backed off but wouldn’t quit. Cleverly came out to end things in round eight. He did well, but Hawk did land two strong left hooks.

Cleverly ignored the hooks and battled back. His desire to end the fight continued. He landed a combination to the head and body that put Hawk down. The 28-year-old got up, but was soon down again from a wicked right hand to the body. Hawk got up at the bell.

Cleverly continued to attack Hawks body in round eight. An overhand right put Hawk down on all fours. The gutsy battler got up at seven. Cleverly went back to the body. Hawk was hurt. Another Cleverly left put him down.

The referee waved off the bout off at 1:23 of round eight. The decision was the correct one.

The bout was televised on the cable network SHOWTIME.