Nathan Cleverly confirms light-heavyweight return

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nathan Cleverly suffered defeat at cruiserweight to British rival Tony Bellew

Former world champion Nathan Cleverly will drop back down a weight for his next fight as he bids for a second world title shot at light-heavyweight.

He wants to fight WBA light-heavyweight champion Juergen Braehmer this year and the first step is a non-title fight on 30 May against an unnamed opponent.

That will take place in London on the undercard to fellow Welshman Lee Selby.

Selby's first world title shot is at the O2 Arena against Evgeny Gradovich for the IBF featherweight title.

Cleverly was due to fight Braehmer in 2011 but inherited his WBO light-heavyweight crown without fighting after the German pulled out because of injury.

The fighter from the Gwent Valleys held the WBO title for two years before being knocked out by Sergey Kovalev in August 2013.

Cleverly stepped up to cruiserweight but is rebuilding his career for a third time following his second career defeat to British cruiserweight rival Tony Bellew last November, where he admitted the extra weight cost him.