• Cruiserweight

Cleverly-Bellew loser 'could be done at top'

Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew face each other on November 22 © PA Photos

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Nathan Cleverly believes the loser of his rematch against Tony Bellew on November 22 will be finished at the top level.

Welshman Cleverly faces Bellew in his home city of Liverpool after beating his bitter rival by a majority points decision for the WBO world light-heavyweight title three years ago.

Cleverly, 27, made five successful WBO world title defences before being stopped in four rounds by Russia's Sergey Kovalev in August last year. Like his rival, 31-year-old Bellew was also beaten in a world light-heavyweight title fight last year when he was halted in six rounds by Canada's WBC champion Adonis Stevenson.

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Hopkins faces Kovalev on November 8 © Getty Images

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Both decided to step up a division and have been on an inevitable collision course for the last year, with two easy wins each at cruiserweight. After reinventing themselves in the division, Cleverly sees this as a make-or-break fight for both men if they want to fight for world titles again.

"It could be the end for the loser of this fight," Cleverly told ESPN.

"The cruiserweight division is wide open and that's the thing that could save the loser. It doesn't take too many fights to get an opportunity to fight for a world title at cruiserweight.

"But the way we have both put ourselves on a pedestal for this fight, it would be very difficult for the loser to come back and have big fights.

"For me, losing is not an option. I have to win this fight and when I beat Tony Bellew he will be finished at the top."

Despite no world title being on the line when they meet again after another war or words, Cleverly insists the rematch is bigger than their first encounter and deserves to be on pay-per-view TV.

"I think it's a bigger fight than our last one, despite no world title being on the line," Cleverly told ESPN.

"Now we are cruiserweights, we are both punching harder and something has got to give now.

"We are both better fighters now than when we last fought each other. I know that I'm better now than my last two fights at light-heavyweight.

"It's a bigger fight now in terms of our reputation and experience, the attention we got for our last fight and the animosity between us that has built up over the years.

"We are on Sky Sports pay-per-view now which is a big broadcasting channel and the fight sold out in 48 hours. It's all bigger than last time and an even bigger grudge match."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd