CEFN Fforest’s Nathan Cleverly is the new WBA world light-heavyweight champion after ending the reign of Juergen Braehmer in Neubrandenburg, Germany.

Braehmer was pulled out of the fight at the start of the seventh round with what is reported to be a dislocated elbow.

The victory means Cleverly becomes a two-time world champion following his stint as WBO light-heavyweight king from 2011-13.

Cleverly joins St Joseph's Boxing Club's Lee Selby as a Welsh world champion.

"I am very grateful to be world champion for a second time," said Cleverly.

"I won the world title when I was 24 and was living the dream in the sport that I loved.

"I lost my belt in my sixth defence but I needed this belt back in my life.

"I have worked hard and dedicated myself to becoming a two -time champion of the world and I am so grateful.

"I am very grateful to Juergen Braehmer for giving me a shot at the title.

"He has been a great champion but he is 37 years of age now. It’s time for a younger lion to come through and I am 29.

"When one door closes another one opens and it’s time for a new champion.

"If he wants the rematch there is a clause if he wants one.

"But ultimately I broke him up in the first six rounds and knowing I was going to dominate the second half."

It was a bizarre ending to what was turning into an intriguing battle between two men who had been due to meet five years ago.

Ironically it was an injury to Braehmer that saw him withdraw from that clash in London.

On this occasion, Cleverly looked to get on the front foot from the first bell, claiming the centre of the ring as both men tried to feel each other out.

His high work rate continued throughout the six completed rounds while Braehmer, eight years older than the Welshman at 37, tried to preserve his energy.

Braehmer countered with his powerful left hand and landed the more eye-catching blows in the early rounds.

By the start of round four Cleverly had thrown 337 punches to Braehmer’s 201 but the German was making 20% more of his find the target.

Cleverly produced a great finish to the fourth after a slow start and began the fifth with a nice left hook to the body.

However, Braehmer was maintaining his accuracy and appeared to be ahead on the judges’ scorecards.

Braehmer seemed to increase the gap between him and his rival in the sixth as he tried to clinch a 49th career win.

Then, with the referee calling both fighters out for the seventh round, Braehmer signalled that he was unable to continue.

For Braehmer, the defeat saw him stopped for the first time in his career, while Cleverly becomes the first Welshman to lose and regain a world title at the same weight.

Victory takes his record to 30 wins and three losses from 33 outings.

Cleverly added: "It’s just good to be back.

"I became world champion at 24 and achieved my dream so young. Maybe it was a bit too early and I was learning boxing and still maturing.

"I had six defences of the world title and lost it in devastating fashion aged 26. Since then I have become wiser, more mature and stronger physically and mentally.

"This is the second phase of my career and it feels the right time.

"I am two-times champion of the world and I have made history for my country and I am so proud.

"We have ups and downs in this sport and I have had them all.

"But it’s time to get it back and we are here for a long time. We knew it was going to be a tough fight early on because Brahemer is 37 and experienced.

"But I broke him up over the first six rounds. It was a matter of keeping it tight and letting him work with me because he has heavy hands and punch himself out.

"The plan was get up tall and set up the second half of the fight. As you saw in the last round before he pulled out I had started to get my range.

"I took the steam out of him and he folded a little bit earlier than I expected. But the writing was on the wall and I was too much."