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Cleverly: No fights left in the UK after I wiped the floor with Bellew



Nathan Cleverly is out to conquer America this weekend after running out of opponents back home.

The unbeaten maths wizard risks his WBO World Light-Heavyweight crown on Saturday against American Shawn Hawk at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.

Few in Britain come close to Cleverly, he outclassed his biggest rival Tony Bellew 13 months ago in the second defence of his title that proved he has outgrown any domestic challengers.

Cleverly who has won all 24 fights said: "It was going great in the UK but there were no other challenges left after I wiped the floor with Bellew.

“I needed to spice things up in my career and fighting in America is the way forward for me.”

It’s proved an impossible task getting big names to travel to Britain to challenge Cleverly, who has been harshly slammed by keyboard warriors over some opponents he’s faced.

But he’ll be on the brink of huge unification fights against men like IBF Champion Tavoris Cloud, WBC title holder Chad Dawson, WBA ruler Beibut Shumenov or the legendary Bernard Hopkins if he impresses a a big American TV audience this weekend.

Cleverly, 25, has been in Los Angeles for almost a week and enjoyed the five star treatment he has been receiving.

He trained in front of a huge media gathering at MacArthur Park, been to visit Mickey Rourke’s at the movie legend’s home and trained at the Wild Card gym.

Cleverly added:  "This is the place to be. This is where the graft is done. It is a great place to be in and I am glad I am experiencing the atmosphere here.”

Cleverly v Hawk will be shown live on BoxNation (Sky 437/Virgin546) from 1am Sunday. Join at boxnation.com

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