Cleverly wants ‘big’ summer show

Nathan Cleverly is undefeated in 23 fights given his 2005 maestro debut

Nathan Cleverly insists a captivate of a joint showdown will safeguard a WBO light-heavyweight champion does not get “careless” opposite Tommy Karpency.

The dominant Welshman meets a 25-year-old American in his third counterclaim in his Welsh homecoming during Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena on 25 February.

Cleverly wants to quarrel WBA title-holder Beibut Shumenov or WBC champion Bernard Hopkins in a summer of 2012.

“It’s a matter of not removing drifting and keep on winning,” Cleverly said.

Cleverly’s upholder Frank Warren gave Shumenov and Hopkins a possibility of going head-to-head with a 24-year-old in a bid to harmonize their titles in February.

But a press recover from Warren’s graduation association suggested Shumenov felt he “would not be prepared in a time” while maestro American fable Hopkins has his Chad Dawson rematch.

Cleverly earnings to Wales for a initial time as a universe champion to urge his WBO climax opposite a warrior who is ranked series 11 by a World Boxing Association and has 21 wins from 24 fights.

But a Pennsylvania warrior mislaid to Karo Murat for a WBO intercontinental light-heavyweight belt in May 2010 and has fought only once since, a first-round knockout of journeyman Andre Hemphill in Feb 2011.

“No he wasn’t my first-choice opponent,” Cleverly said.

“We had a list of fighters and we attempted a few others though apparently negotiations fell through.

“But for me it was a box of entrance home and fighting, we wasn’t worried who stepped in given each warrior is a intensity threat.

“It is a matter of creation a large matter during home in Wales.

“We attempted Shumenov though that fell by for some reason. That was my initial choice, that was a one we wanted given he is WBA champion.

“So I’ll only have to get on with business.”

Cleverly has shielded his WBO pretension opposite Aleksy Kuziemski and Tony Bellew though a Feb uncover in Cardiff will be his initial quarrel in Wales given violence Joey Vegas on points in Nov 2007.

And a Cefn Fforest warrior wants to stir opposite Karpency to set adult a “big summer showdown” with possibly Shumenov or Hopkins.

“Bernard Hopkins is potentially in a pipeline,” Cleverly said.

“It’s a matter of winning and performing, as we wish for a large summer showdown with a large name in a division.”