Nathan Cleverly has lost his WBO light-heavyweight title to Sergey Kovalev on a disappointing night for British supporters in Cardiff.

The 26-year-old was on the back foot from the first bell and Kovalev floored his opponent with a crushing blow in the first round.

Cleverly, who had never previously been knocked down in his professional career, struggled to contend with the Russian's obvious power.

Despite being cut above his right eye, Kovalev continued to grow in confidence as he struck cleverly to the canvas again with a series of punishing blows.

Home crowd favourite Cleverly managed to reach the fourth round but that was where his bid for a seventh successful fight as champion came to an end.

Kovalev only needed 29 seconds in the fourth round before the referee stepped in to put an end to a miserable night for Cleverly.