• Light-heavyweight

Cleverly in talks over unification showdown

ESPN staff
November 26, 2011
Nathan Cleverly is a wanted man, with Enzo Maccarinelli and Tony Bellew keen © PA Photos
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WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly is on course for a unification battle in Wales next year, according to promoter Frank Warren.

Warren has opened talks with Beibut Shumenov, the WBA king, as he bids to increase Cleverly's profile within the division. Shumenov, 28, won the title in just his tenth pro fight and has defended it on three occasions, most recently against Danny Santiago in July.

"It's in the early stages but I'm in talks with promoter of WBA light-heavyweight king Beibut Shumenov about a unification clash with WBO king Nathan Cleverly," Warren told boxingscene.com.

"I'm aiming for it to take place early next year in Wales and it will be a big homecoming as Cleverly's last fight there was in 2007 on the Joe Calzaghe-Mikkel Kessler card. Cleverly is only 24 and is a wanted man with Enzo Maccarinelli and Tony Bellew keen. It'll be his decision."

Meanwhile, Maccarinelli's trainer Enzo Calzaghe has told his charge to forget about an all-Welsh scrap against Cleverly. Maccarinelli kicked off his light-heavyweight career with a first-round knockout of Gyorgy Marosi last month.

"It might be the fight the Welsh public want to see but it is not the fight I want to see," Calzaghe told sportsvibe.co.uk. "This is because I respect both of them and don't think they need to fight now. Maybe further down the line but at the current moment I would prefer to see Enzo do his own thing … He does not need Nathan at the moment and Nathan does [not] need him."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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