• Light-heavyweight

Cleverly hopeful of future Froch fight

ESPN staff
May 25, 2013
Nathan Cleverly has made four defences of his WBO title © PA Photos
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Nathan Cleverly has revealed Carl Froch could be a potential challenger for his WBO light-heavyweight title.

Froch and Mikkel Kessler meet at the O2 Arena on Saturday in a repeat of their 2010 tussle, where Kessler inflicted a first career defeat on Froch after winning by a unanimous points decision.

While IBF champion Froch and WBA title holder Kessler prepare for another bruising encounter, Cleverly believes fellow Briton Froch could make the step up in division and face him in the future.

"In that super-middleweight division, any one of those guys could potentially move up to the light-heavyweight division, it's only 7lbs difference," Cleverly told BBC Radio Five Live.

"We could potentially fight each other one day so really, we're rivals as such. He's just said he's happy staying at his weight and that he's not big enough to move up. That's his choice but obviously it'd be a great fight if it ever was to materialise."

On Thursday, Cleverly labelled Froch a "hypocrite" after the latter criticised him for sparring with Kessler.

Cleverly has made four successful defences of his WBO crown, and the 26-year-old feels the fight will be too close to call.

"People don't know which way to go, it's a 50-50 fight. The first fight was an excellent toe-to-toe battle so this could be very similar," he said. "I've got quite a strong idea, I've been out in Denmark sparring with Mikkel Kessler, helping his preparation.

"It was a great experience, we had some good sparring."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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