Cleverly eyes Froch showdown

Nathan Cleverly remains hopeful that Carl Froch's fight with Mikkel Kessler on Saturday night can be the springboard to an all-British light-heavyweight showdown.

Froch will put his IBF super-middleweight belt on the line in Saturday's rematch with WBA title-holder Kessler, who beat him by unanimous decision after a memorable battle in Kessler's native Denmark.

Should Nottingham fighter Froch win and decide to step up a weight division, WBO champion Cleverly would await as a potential opponent. And the Welshman told BBC Radio Five Live: "In that super-middleweight division, any one of those guys could potentially move up to the light-heavyweight division, it's only 7lbs difference. We could potentially fight each other one day so really, we're rivals as such."

He added: "He's just said he's happy staying at his weight and that he's not big enough to move up. That's his choice but obviously it'd be a great fight if it ever was to materialise."

Cleverly has inside information on the build-up to Saturday's fight, having travelled to Scandinavia to spar with 34-year-old Kessler, and he expects another hard-fought encounter.

"People don't know which way to go, it's a 50-50 fight," he said.

"The first fight was an excellent toe-to-toe battle so this could be very similar.

"I've got quite a strong idea, I've been out in Denmark sparring with Mikkel Kessler, helping his preparation. It was a great experience, we had some good sparring."