Cleverly: I Want Dawson at Millennium, Shumenov Ideal
Nathan Cleverly wants a unification fight against new WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson in his native Wales.
Cleverly retained his WBO belt in a thriller against British rival Tony Bellew in Liverpool on Saturday evening, while Dawson controversially beat veteran Bernard Hopkins to take his title with a second-round technical knockout.
Dawson was declared champion after a confusing end to the fight when he lifted Hopkins off his feet and down to the canvas in the second round, with the 46-year-old landing heavily on his left shoulder.
With Hopkins in pain and unable to continue, the referee then declared it a TKO win for Dawson.
Cleverly said: “I saw the fight and although it was brief and there was not much action between them, I would fancy taking on Dawson at the Millennium Stadium next year.
“Hopkins will probably want an immediate rematch with Dawson after that ending so that will hold things up for a while, but a Dawson fight is one I’d be confident of winning.
“My name is in the mix with these guys as well as IBF champion Tavoris Cloud and I’m confident promoter Frank Warren can get one of them over here.”
The way is now open for the 24-year-old and he is also targeting a unification clash with the WBA champion Beibut Shumenov.
“Ideally I would like Shumenov next, but I’ve got lots of options. I’m still only 24 and there are plenty of big fights out there for me,” added Cleverly.
“I’ve just come off the best win of my career. Full respect to Tony (Bellew), he made me dig really deep to win and you saw the best of me.”
http://www.boxingscene.com/cleverly-i-want-dawson-millennium-shumenov-ideal–45031