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Cleverly bracing himself for 'hardest' test

The animosity between Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew is clear © PA Photos

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Nathan Cleverly is gearing himself up for the fight of his life when he puts his WBO light-heavyweight title on the line against bitter rival Tony Bellew later this month.

The pair will finally get it on at Liverpool's Echo Arena on October 15 after their proposed clash in May fell through when Bellew failed to make the weight when acting as a late replacement for Juergen Braehmer.

The ill feeling between the two pugilists has been evident ever since, with heated press conferences adding extra spice to the domestic grudge match. Expecting a hungry and dangerous Bellew, Cleverly is all too aware what is at stake, and the Welshman says he is preparing for the challenger accordingly.

"I am hoping for a comfortable victory but I am preparing for the fight of my life," he said. "It is not a foregone conclusion. I am focusing on going out there and putting on a very solid performance.

"I don't care whether he boxes or fights. I am not bothered. I will be ready for whatever. I have the ability to adapt to anything he throws at me."

Legendary American Bernard Hopkins has been mooted as a possible future opponent for Cleverly should he overcome Bellew. However, after picking up the WBO belt when Braehmer failed to show up for their showdown, and then defending the title for the first time with a fourth-round knockout of Aleksy Kuziemski, Cleverly accepts people are gunning for his scalp and he is keeping his eyes firmly fixed on the unbeaten Bellew.

"He is potentially the hardest opponent I have faced," he said. "I have fought some very good boxers, though. He is hungry and he is preparing well. My mindset is that I am going in to a hard fight no matter how it looks on paper.

"We are two unbeaten British fighters in the same weight division and both hungry to win, but I'm going to show that I want it more."

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