Nathan Cleverly outclassed American challenger Tommy Karpency to easily retain his WBO light-heavyweight crown at Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on Saturday.

The talented Welshman dominated his opponent from start to finish in a one-sided contest to extend his record to 24-0, including 11 knockouts, with a unanimous 120-108, 120-108, 120-108 victory.

Karpency, ranked No.11 by the WBO, was never in the contest as Cleverly pummeled him with shots to the head and the body, seemingly connecting at will through the Pennsylvania southpaw’s feeble defence.

Fighting before a Welsh crowd for the first time in four years, Cleverly was always in control against Karpency, who spent much of the bout trapped on the ropes without showing any willingness to trade blows.

The only blight on an otherwise polished display for Cleverly was his failure to force a stoppage against an opponent who was on the back foot from the outset.

The defeat lifted Karpency’s record to 21-3-1 with 14 knockouts.