CEFN Fforest fighter Nathan Cleverly admits he’s rolling the dice over his next career move, having turned down a world title fight to avoid any more accusations about being a soft champion.

Cleverly is bidding to become a two-time light heavyweight world champion, after an unsuccessful tilt at the cruiserweight division that saw him lose to hated rival Tony Bellew.

Cleverly, the former WBO light heavyweight champion, was heavily into negotiations to finally fight long-term target Juergen Braehmer, instead opting to clash with Andrzej Fonfara at the UIC Pavilion in Chicago on October 16.

Fonfana is considered a top prospect and Cleverly admits the prospect of fighting the locally-based fighter – who lives in Chicago – was a tough decision to come to.

“I had two options on the table. Fighting Braehmer for the world title in Germany and I really had my heart set on that fight because it was a chance to become world champion again, but then a few weeks later I had an offer from America to fight Fonfara,” he told the Argus.

“Initially, I was all set on the Braehmer fight but I thought long and hard about the Fonfara option for a few days and I drifted towards that. He's more of a dangerous opponent and he hasn't got the world title but it's in the big market in America. Thought if I can overcome Fonfara in this tough fight then I'm in the big league then.”

Cleverly admits he feels a need to prove himself, having been derided in recent months for taking easy fights, especially by British rival Bellew.

Asked if he felt he needed to prove himself all over again, Cleverly explained: “Yes, I think over the last few years boxing has changed.

“There's a demand for real true fights now as the level of boxing is so good. High demand for 50-50 fights and myself and Fonfara are an example of that. Fonfara slight favourite going into the fight but it's a real fight. That's the fight people want to see in boxing and the fights I want to be involved in - it's challenging, I've got something to lose but at the same time there's a lot to gain.

“It gets the adrenalin pumping, working hard and striving to be the best. High risk but high reward. “People want to see the best fighting the best, whether there's a world title on the line or not. But beat Fonfara and will be in line for world title shot anyway.”

Don’t miss Argus Sport for much more with Nathan Cleverly ahead of his big showdown in the States. October is a huge month for Gwent boxing and your Argus Sport will be across it all.