Overflowing confidence, a belief in self-abilities, and a meteoric rise—that’s how you can sum up Cheavon Clarke. Very few fighters burst on the scene like he has, and it seems he might be only a fight away from stepping on the biggest stage of all—a world title shot. But will he continue to march on the glorious path with his sheer power? Or will he stumble on his way up to the top of the cruiserweight division’s food chain?

The fans will find it out when they witness Clarke fight Leonardo Mosquea with the European title on the line on Saturday, December 14 at the Salle Des Etoiles at Sporting Monte-Carlo in Monte Carlo. The fight offers fans a high-octane fight with fireworks on the offer. After all, the higher you go in the division, the more brutal the fights and the more chances of a knockout. That’s not only it. It’s a clash between two undefeated fighters, where one will lose his 0. Before that happens, let’s have a look at how they stack up.

Cheavon Clarke vs. Leonardo Mosquea: Tale of Tape

Clarke, 33, is a unique specimen from whatever lens you look at him. From quotation boxing to being a truck driver to being an Olympian, he has done it all. While the Jamaican-British fighter didn’t clinch gold in the Olympics or World Championships, he made his mantle known in the Commonwealth Games and European Championships. He carried on a similar trajectory when he turned pro almost two years ago, and he has already raced to a record of 10-0 with 7 KOs. When you look at him, you see a fighter with a dynamic and fan-friendly style, as hinted by his KO ratio of 70%.

The Montego Bay native throws heavy-handed punches along with combinations. You should be wary of his hooks and uppercuts when on defense. But it’s his physicality and conditionality that could put you in trouble. Clarke uses his height of 5’11” (182 cm) to employ an effective jab and launch attacks behind it. Interestingly, his reach is not listed on the major websites, even though he maintains a high output rate and constant pressure. What about Mosquea?

Mosquea, 30, is the younger of the two, yet he has more pro fights under his belt. He is your typical coming-forward and heavy-unloading puncher. Despite the French fighter’s relative anonymity, he can put on a show for the fans with his toughness and resilience, along with his willingness to take a punch to land one of his own. The same has resulted in his unblemished record of 15-0 with 9 KOs. You can understand his preference for volume punching and power hunting with his KO ratio of 60%.

The Bron native carries a marginal height disadvantage of 2 cm, as he stands tall at 5’11” (180 cm). The same also extends to the size disadvantage, as he weighed 198.5 lbs (90.0 kg), when he last stood on the scales, compared to Clarke’s 199.8 lbs (90.6 kg). But how will these numbers translate to performance in the ring?

Prediction: Who wins it?

What separates Clarke from the rest? It’s his punching power, high work ethic, and willingness to engage. But it’s instinct for finishing fights, where he intelligibly finishes the fight. When compared to Mosquea, he has stronger fundamentals with a more polished style. You can expect him to put pressure on and control the fight and the distance with his jab and his quick footwork. He will slowly pick apart his opponent, landing body shots and unleashing combinations.

But if Mosquea withers the storm, he could try to overwhelm Clarke with his volume punching. But the fight will hinge on how effective Clarke will be with his counters. If ‘C4’ brings his usual counter-punching game on the eventful night, then Mosquea will find it difficult till the end of the right.

Slow and devastating punching will lead to a middle-round KO win for Clarke, given his superior skill set and Mosquea’s defensive vulnerabilities. But Mosquea’s toughness, experience, and youth will surely make the fight competitive.

What do you make of this coming fight between Cheavon Clarke and Leonardo Mosquea? Who do you think will leave the arena with a win? Let us know in the comments below.