Welsh ace sets sights on ‘super’ champ

Cat’s the way to do it, Dean

NATHAN CLEVERLY is aiming to beat Tony Bellew to a big-money fight with Andre Ward.

The Welshman defends his WBA ‘regular’ light-heavyweight title against Badou Jack on the undercard of Floyd Mayweather’s clash with Conor McGregor at the T-Mobile Arena tonight.

The winner is likely to get a shot at IBF, WBO and WBA ‘super’ champion Ward, who is considered one of the best fighters on the planet.

Shrewd

But Ward is flirting with a move up in weight and Cleverly’s bitter rival Bellew has called him out.

“Bellew would be too big for Ward,” he said. “Ward is a shrewd fighter, he will know that Bellew is too big. Bellew is a big lump.

“I think Ward will more than likely sit on his sofa at home and look for the winner of this ELITE FIGHTER: Andre Ward is in line to face winner one. The winner is mandatory for the WBA super title. Ward is the man, he’s the main man. “He’s the elite fighter. Myself and Jack is a solid world title fight but Andre Ward is the elite fight.” Cleverly has been involved in pay-per-view fights back in the UK before. His two fights with Bellew, winning the first and then losing the second, were big events but he has never been involved in something of this size. Cleverly was kept waiting for over half an hour for the grand arrival event on Tuesday in the searing heat of the Strip. He was also frustrated by ¬ having to attend a workout event in the MGM Grand hotel on Wednesday and threatened not to show up.

Cleverly believes the promoters have been deliberately trying to wind him up but insists the mind games won’t work as he looks to become the first Brit to beat Jack.

The Swedish-born fighter beat George Groves in 2015 at supermiddleweight and drew with James DeGale in January.

“There is so much hype, so much attention,” said the Welshman who has lost three of his 33 bouts.

Fluster

“You just have to stay focused and avoid the hype because you can get eaten up in it all.

“It is quite difficult to deal with because there is so much going on it can fluster your mind.

“I’m experienced enough to deal with it. I take matters into my own hands and just deal with it. I take it as it comes.

“Ultimately Badou Jack is getting it and that is it.”

FIT AND FOCUSED: Nathan Cleverly gets in some sparring in Vegas

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