Boxing Cleverly
Nathan Cleverly is a world champion and few fighters deserve that title more. He has taken a long, hard route to the top – British champion, Commonwealth champion, European champion – and has impressed immensely along the way by beating some good fighters. But he is still below the radar and the simple reason is that the wider sport-watching market that turns boxers into millionaires wants to see a fight with some background. Fights like Eubank-Benn, Maccarinelli-Haye and Groves-DeGale captured the imagination and Cleverly needs to do that if he is to become a headlining name. He will get plenty of attention if he fights a unification bout with Bernard Hopkins, and boxing aficionados would love to see him go up against Tavoris Cloud, Chad Dawson or Jean Pascal. But I suspect he needs a warm-up fight before he takes on one of those titans, and he could benefit enormously by doing so in Wales – his first home bout in nearly four years – and accumulating more fans. The perfect opponent? Enzo Maccarinelli. It ticks all the boxes. Maccarinelli is a true warrior, the fight would be a great story – former gym-mates in what would probably be a slug fest – and it would get sport fans across the UK talking. I spoke to Maccarinelli recently and it’s fair to say he wants this one. Cleverly should too because it could be crucial in getting his talent the fuller recognition it deserves.

Just Burger Off
Forget that he was drinking within three months of the World Cup. Ignore the fact that an athlete wanted a burger, and try to contain yourself when you reflect that a grown man of 28 was - deep breath – ‘out and being loutish’ (Hangings: that would learn them thar pampered sportsmen, it would). The real issue is how Mike Phillips, at 6ft 3in and more than 16st, got flattened by a McDonald’s bouncer. A fat one at that - it’s not like he was one of the ogres that used to guard Liquid. All of this gives me a bad feeling about the World Cup.

City Slickers
Nothing has been simple with Cardiff City in the past decade or so and I fear that’s not about to change with the appointment of Malky Mackay as manager. He was City’s first choice but once Alan Shearer entered the frame it has been reported that the Malaysian owners shifted their affections to the former England captain. Of course, the Shearer move did not happen and Mackay ultimately got the job. But, while it is significant and encouraging that two key members of the City board backed Mackay all along, the courtship of Shearer gives rise to concern that Mackay might not have the full backing of the owners. It will be interesting to see how tolerant they are if Mackay fails to get Cardiff to the play-offs, which seems a far-fetched ambition when you consider the players that left this summer. Mackay is an extremely promising manager, a forward-thinker who proved at Watford that he is comfortable operating on a budget. If he is given time, he will make big strides at Cardiff. As ever with City, though, it’s a pretty big if.

Seconds Away! Riath Al-Samarrai loves a good fight