• Light-heavyweight

Cleverly keeping fingers crossed for Froch victory

Nathan Cleverly thinks Carl Froch will prove too powerful for Andre Ward © Getty Images

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WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly would welcome the chance to take Carl Froch's scalp, saying a domestic showdown would be "great for the British public".

Cleverly will return to Wales for the first time as a world champion when he gets back in action on February 25 at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff, against an as yet unnamed opponent.

Froch, meanwhile, is counting down the days until his showdown with American Andre Ward, which takes place in Atlantic City. 'The Cobra' puts his WBC super-middleweight title on the line in the eagerly-awaited final of the Super Six at the weekend, with Olympic champion Ward adding his WBA version to the equation.

Should Froch pull through against the unbeaten Ward, he has made noises about stepping up to light-heavyweight - Cleverly's weight class. If he decides to move up, the clamour for an all-British clash will grow, and Cleverly says he would relish the prospect of getting it on with his British foe.

"Two British world champions, it would be a great fight for the British public," he told Sky Sports News. "I know Carl himself has whispered about the fight. I think it's something that needs looking at. If it happens it's going to be a great fight, I'd look forward to that one. "

In the immediate future all eyes will be on Froch as he looks to inflict a first professional defeat on the hugely talented Ward on Saturday night. Despite Ward going into the fight as the favourite, Cleverly, the WBO light-heavyweight king, thinks Froch has it in him to take Ward's belt, even with the American fighting on home soil.

"I think Ward is going to be the favourite going into the fight," he said. "He's fighting in America, on his home turf, but you can never write off Carl Froch. He's tough, he trains well and I think he's got a great chance and could pull it off. He's got the strength to pull this off, he's a great fighter.

"It will be tough, it's always tough boxing at this level. I think Carl's proven, though, he's world champion he's shown he can handle that occasion and I think he'll do so again. He's mentally strong, he's got the power; Ward hasn't got the power to trouble Carl. He's got the speed and boxing ability but I don't think he's got the power."

While Cleverly and Froch are both looking forward, fellow Brit Amir Khan is reflecting on his points defeat to Lamont Peterson, sustained in Washington last weekend amid controversy. Khan, who was deducted two points for pushing, screamed robbery after losing the contest via a split decision, and Cleverly has sympathy for the former light-welterweight champion, who surrendered his WBA and IBF titles.

He said: "It was a cracking fight: Khan got off to a great start, he looked sharp. If he hadn't had points taken off you had to give the fight to Khan. Peterson didn't do enough to take the belts away from him. Obviously with the ref taking two points off of Khan the result had to go to Peterson because it was a close fight anyway.

"I think the best result is a rematch, with the quality of the first fight it could happen in Las Vegas - on neutral ground. The second fight could be just as good."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.