THE GRUDGE rematch between Tony Bellew and Cefn Fforest fighter Nathan Cleverly has been confirmed for November 22 at the Liverpool Echo Arena.

As reported for several months in Argus Sport, the duo, who faced off at the same venue when Cleverly was WBO light heavyweight world champion with the Welshman victorious, were both keen for a rematch having both switched to cruiserweight.

The duo share a promoter in Eddie Hearn and the winner of the battle will go on to fight for a world title, with Hearn confident this battle will capture the imagination of the British public, like Carl Froch versus George Groves, albeit on a smaller scale.

The pair having refused to calm their war of words since the announcement of the fight and taunted one another on a recent radio appearance.

Cleverly claimed that the last fight saw his opponent “embarrassed,” and insisted people only filled the Echo Arena to see the world champion.

Bellew, who claims to hate Cleverly, branded him a joke and insisted the fight is only in Liverpool because Bellew “has more fans than Cleverly in Wales,” and that Nathan “couldn’t sell out a phone box,”

The pair will now continue their animosity on a press day, the duo scheduled for Liverpool on Wednesday lunchtime and Cardiff in the evening as they continue to ramp up the hype.

Cleverly, who has won 28 of his 29 professional fights, moved up to the 200lb weight class after Sergey Kovalev beat him to take his WBO title in August 2013. He fought Bellew in 2011.

The Welsh fighter says Bellew "needs" their next clash more because of the outcome the last time they met in the ring.

"We've got history now," said Cleverly. "The first fight was a cracker and the next fight is going to be even better.

"It's going to be a replica of the first with more power.

"We're heavier. I feel someone's going to go and I'm confident I'm going to do a number on Tony Bellew.

"He needs this fight more because until he gets it and tries to get revenge he's going to be bitter for the rest of his boxing career.

"I can happily move on. I've already got the victory. But the reason I want it is we're on collision course.

“He’s right to say it took me longer to become natural at cruiserweight, but that’s because I’ve put the weight on gradually, properly. He didn’t have to do that, because he was a fat little heavyweight as an amateur.”