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Best is yet to come - Cleverly

Big fights await Nathan Cleverly in 2012 © Getty Images

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WBO light-heavyweight king Nathan Cleverly has fired a warning shot to his rivals by declaring he has barely scratched the surface of his boxing talent, while laying out his goal of becoming unified world champion.

Cleverly, 24, is the only remaining British world champion after David Haye, Amir Khan and most recently Carl Froch lost their respective belts at various points in 2011.

It may not have been the best year for British boxing - at least on the world stage - but the unbeaten Cleverly has backed his peers to bounce back and dismissed claims British boxing is going through a difficult period.

While the likes of Khan and Froch reflect on their losses this Christmas, Cleverly will be pushing his body to the limit in preparation for his ring return on February 25 at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena - his first fight back on home soil as a world champion.

Since turning professional six years ago, Cleverly has racked up 23 victories, with 11 ending inside the distance. Far from satisfied, however, Cleverly is predicting there is more to come and he is determined to fulfil his ambition of being crowned the undisputed No. 1 light-heavyweight on the planet.

"I've only touched the surface I feel. I'm sure there's a lot more to come," Cleverly told the BBC. "I look at what I've achieved over the last couple of years. I've kind of just been playing with the sport really in terms of what I can do.

"With that extra focus to my training, to my lifestyle, I think I can really go and push forward. My ultimate ambition is to become unified world champion. We're looking for one massive fight in the summer against one of the big names in the division."

One name that Cleverly continues to be linked with is Bernard Hopkins - the WBC light-heavyweight title-holder. Chad Dawson is likely to be next for the American, after their previous clash was ruled a no-contest, but Cleverly is hopeful of bringing Hopkins to Britain for a super-fight at some point next year.

"He's [Hopkins] a massive name," added Cleverly. "He's a really great fighter and if we could get someone of the calibre of that - a massive name - that would be great to take place in Wales. When you fight the best guys and you beat them, that's when you get the recognition of the media, the public and they stand up and take note then.

"I'm only 24 now so we're working towards those fights and we will get there."

Hopkins and other potential mega-fights will have to wait; Cleverly's immediate focus is on finding a February opponent, with No. 1 target American-based Pole Andrzej Fonfara no longer in the frame.

"There was a mention of that opponent but I don't think it's going to be him," Cleverly said. "There's a few options out there. We tried to get Beibut Shumenov, the WBA champion. Unfortunately he doesn't seem interested in a fight now. We'll find someone and we'll find a good opponent ready for the homecoming."

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