• Light Heavyweight

Hopkins tempted by Cleverly payday

Nathan Cleverly wants a shot at Bernard Hopkins © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Quickfire defence 'not ideal' for Cleverly
  
• News: Krasniqi my ticket to Hopkins - Cleverly
  
• News: Cleverly to fight Krasniqi at Royal Albert Hall
  
• News: WBO rejects Cleverly v Krasniqi fight
  
• Profile: Nathan Cleverly

Frank Warren is confident he can lure Bernard Hopkins to Britain for a light-heavyweight clash with Nathan Cleverly.

Joe Calzaghe had claimed Hopkins would not fight his fellow Welshman because Cleverly was "not big enough in America", but Warren claims it is Hopkins' promoters who are chasing a unification battle.

Cleverly makes the fourth defence of his WBO title against Robin Krasniqi at the Royal Albert Hall on April 28 after the WBO agreed to sanction the fight.

Later that night Hopkins defends his WBC crown in his rematch with Chad Dawson, and should Hopkins and Cleverly emerge victorious, Warren wants the pair to go head-to-head in Wales, with the Millennium Stadium earmarked as a likely venue.

Warren has confirmed he is already in talks with Richard Schaefer, CEO of Hopkins' promoters Golden Boy Promotions.

"I think we can make the fight," Warren said. "I've been talking to Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy and it was him who suggested the fight to me. Hopkins will get a big payday and where is he going to fight where they are to draw 40,000 to 50,000 people? There isn't anywhere in America where that is going to happen.

"I think styles make fights and I think if the opportunity comes for Nathan Cleverly to fight Bernard Hopkins, it is a fight he should take."

Unbeaten in 24 fights as a professional, Warren believes the 25-year-old's age works in his favour against the 47-year-old Hopkins, although he admits it will be a "tough" fight for the Welshman.

"It would be a tough fight but even if he got beat, so what?" Warren said. "He is young enough to come again. Even if you lose a fight it is how you lose a fight - and I just feel for Nathan it would be a great fight for him to take.

"It will be a tough, tough fight for him but I think his youth and his speed is the key to winning the fight."

Despite initially blocking the fight, the WBO has now cleared Cleverly to fight Krasniqi, providing he makes his next defence against mandatory challenger Dmitry Sukhotsky within 120 days.

However, Cleverly has made no secret of his desire for a unification bout against either Hopkins, IBF title holder Tavoris Cloud or WBA champion Beibut Shumenov.

"I feel I'm ready for those guys," Cleverly said. "Hopkins would be the bigger draw, he has the name, status and is still a class operator. "He will probably demand a lot of money to tempt them to Wales. But if that's what is needed to bring him over, then we'll sure do that and get the fight on."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.