CEFN Fforest fighter Nathan Cleverly is set for a showdown with Juergen Braehmer, a mere four years after the duo were first scheduled to fight.

Braehmer, 36, is the WBA light heavyweight champion and defended his title on Saturday night against former Cleverly victim Robin Krasniqi.

Braehmer, who beat Enzo Maccarinelli last year after the Swansea fighter suffered an horrific eye injury, was twice scheduled to face Cleverly in 2010, eventually vacating the WBO world title that Cleverly captured and subsequently lost at the destructive hands of Sergey Kovalev.

However, after Cleverly aborted his attempt to resume his career at cruiserweight, following a loss to rival Tony Bellew, he’s now targeting a showdown with Braehmer.

And Cleverly’s promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed a deal is all but done to see the duo clash in September, if Cleverly can first get through a warm-up fight in May.

“I was matched with Braehmer twice four years ago, but just couldn’t seem to get that guy in the ring. I think the second time he even refused from the airport,” Cleverly explained.

“It was very disappointing at the time, but I was hoping he’d win and in style against Krasniqi.

“Braehmer has a lot of miles on the clock; he’s 36-years old now and slows down in the second half of fights.

“I want him in a world title fight, absolutely.

“I had a world title defence against Krasniqi and really boxed well that night, winning easily on points and now we can gauge in comparison to Braehmer.

“I’m glad he won, you could see Krasniqi had nothing left and I’m praying now he takes the fight with me. Let’s get it on once and for all.

“I’m told it is a good possibility for September, I’ll fight before then in May and then hopefully move on to this fight with Braehmer.”

Cleverly admits he’s been told the fight is more than a possibility, though he’ll need to travel.

“I’m told it can really happen, I believe the fight is on the cards and let’s see what the promoters can sort out now.

“I know talks have been put in place, the seed has been planted, I’m ready, but will Braehmer finally take me on? If he does I will rip that world title away from him.

“I’m confident I am going to do this and become world champion again.

“I think I’ll have to travel for it, Germany will be the destination, but I’m happy to do that. It’s a chance at redemption.”

Cleverly admits his gamble to switch to cruiserweight, the largest jump in weight in all the divisions, didn’t pay off after hated domestic rival Tony Bellew beat him in Liverpool.

“I feel good now, gradually finding my natural weight again, around and about 13-and-a-half stone, around a stone away from the light heavy limit and I’ll make it comfortably,” he said.

“It’s my proper weight and where I belong.

“Moving up to cruiserweight was a calculated gamble.

“After losing to Sergey Kovalev and losing my world title, I was looking around, where is the next biggest fight?

“Did I want to go back to British or Commonwealth level fights at light heavy? Not really, I’ve done all that before.

“I was looking at the next biggest fight and that was Tony Bellew at cruiserweight and I thought, why not?

“I had good strength and conditioning training and put on a lot of weight in a short space of time. It nearly paid off, I had a couple of good performances, but the Bellew fight, a proper big guy, I was comfortable for six rounds.

“I thought it was quite easy. But then I totally gassed. I didn’t use my right hand in training, I had problems then and I took that into the fight.

“But I gassed, I gassed badly and Bellew kept pushing on me and the extra weight and muscle I put on took its toll on me. It was frustrating for me.

“I’ve got the hunger back, a new target, I want to be a light heavyweight world champion again. It looks like it’ll be me versus Braehmer in September, but I’ve got to impress in May first.”