WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has no issue with facing WBA king Beibut Shumenov on his home turf of Las Vegas in a unification clash. Preliminary negotiations have taken place between the two camps and Cleverly is targeting Shumenov's title belt. Cleverly would prefer to stage the fight in Wales, but Shumenov is pushing for a Las Vegas battle.
"Beibut Shumenov, the WBA world champion, he's next in my sights," Cleverly said to BBC Sport Wales. "So whether that's going to be in Wales or in Las Vegas, where he's based, we're yet to find out but wherever the fight takes place I'm really looking forward to that one. I want to fight the best to be considered the best 175-pounder in the world.
"Preferably I'd love a homecoming now in Wales, it has been a long time. So that would be my number-one venue, otherwise if we've got to travel to Las Vegas then so be it. We'll go out there and do the business."
Shumenov, originally from Kazakhstan, but now a Las Vegas native, prefers to stage the fight in his new hometown and doesn't appear willing to travel over to Wales.
"I told [IBO champion Jean] Pascal that I'm from Kazakhstan, he lives in Canada; so, we should fight in the capital of boxing, Las Vegas. Same goes for Cleverly, who is from the United Kingdom. I'm getting ready and looking forward to a fresh New Year. Hopefully, one of the other light heavyweight world champions will put his title belt on the line against mine in a unification fight in 2012," Shumenov said.
