Dan Rafael of espn.com is reporting that WBO Light Heavyweight champion will defend his crown on October 15th against Brit Tony Bellew in Liverpool, England.
“A fight between me and Bellew has been heating up for a long time and now he’s ready to be taught a lesson,” Cleverly said. “He’s got a big mouth, but he can’t back it up with his fists and this time he’s talked himself into big trouble that he won’t be able to fight his way out of. My blood boils when I think back to the press conference we had and he wanted to fight there and then.
“I just wish it was him in the ring that night instead of Kuziemski. I would have knocked him (out), but he would have come out with excuses that he was a last minute replacement. I’m happy that this time he’s had time to prepare and his weight will right and he’ll have no excuses when he’s knocked out cold by me.”
“I’ll be fit and ready on the night and it’s the worst scenario that he could have ever wished for. I’ll give him nightmares,” Bellew said. “This is the fight I’ve wanted and been banging for and now I’m going to prove all along what I’ve been saying is true. I rattled him at the last press conference. He’ll deny it, but he was physically shaking and it’s still playing on his mind now. He can’t beat me mentally or physically and he knows that. He may have a touch more speed, but I have plans to counter that.”
Cleverly’s promoter Frank Warren said it is possible that the winner could get a chance to face champion Bernard Hopkins if he defeats Chad Dawson on Oct. 15.
“I’m in discussions with Hopkins’ promoter, Richard Schaefer, about a potential fight with the winner, so it’s a massive incentive for both guys.”
