Welshman Nathan Cleverly believes that Argentine Alejandro Valori will be a "slight step up" in opposition from who he faced on his cruiserweight debut.
Cleverly stopped Sean Corbin inside two rounds on his first outing since stepping up to cruiserweight, and as he prepares for a potential rematch with Tony Bellew in November, the former light-heavyweight world champion is keen to make a positive statement against his next opponent.
The 27-year-old told IFL.TV: "He will be a slight step-up, but that's what we need now, a gradual step up in the opposition.
"Valori will come to fight, he will come swinging wild hooks in the first couple of rounds. He's quite strong and ruggedly tough, but if I'm to push on, I need to beat this guy and win in emphatic fashion."
Bellew, who has also moved up in weight, will face Julio Cesar Dos Santos on the same bill at Liverpool's Echo Arena on July 12.
Written by
Darren Plant
Darren Plant
