Cleverly slight favourite to beat Bellew at a neutral venue

After victories at the weekend Nathan Cleverly and Tony Bellew are set to face each other in a grudge clash towards the end of the year and Ladbrokes make the Welshman slight favourite for victory – if the fight is at a neutral arena.

Promoter Eddie Hearn has already booked a provisional date for Cleverly v Bellew II at the Liverpool Echo Arena but with the Phones4U Arena in Manchester another candidate to host the fight, the bookmaker have the Welsh fighter marginal favourite for victory.

Cleverly, who beat Bellew to retain his WBO light-heavyweight title back in 2011, is 4/5 to make it 2 and 0 against the Liverpudlian after stopping Alejandro Emilio Valori inside four rounds.

But Bellew, who is evens for the win, put in an impressive display of his own against Julio Cesar Dos Santos and straight away turned his attentions to the man he called a “plastic champion”.

The war of words between the two fighters started straight after the bell, with Bellew celebrating in the direction of his next opponent and shouting “you’re next”.

The slanging match continued into the Everton supporter’s post-fight interview, with Bellew going onto say: “I’m now an established pro, I’m not a plastic world champion. I just want to hurt you.”

Cleverly responded: “I’ve come to his home town and already beaten him. This time it will be emphatic, I will damage him. I will spank him again.”

But despite Cleverly’s win on Merseyside back in 2011 Ladbrokes believe the contest will be much closer should Hearn secure home advantage for the Bomber.

In front of the Liverpool fans Ladbrokes’ boxing traders cannot separate the two fighters with the pair both available at 10/11 for the win in the domestic dust-up and odds of 22/1 available on the draw.

Elsewhere, the British Boxing Board of Control have announced they are disappointed with Tyson Fury’s behaviour at the final press conference for his bout with Dereck Chisora in Manchester.

Fury, who is 1/2 for victory in Manchester, launched into a foul-mouthed tirade at Chisora and seemed to want to fight the Londoner there and then.

Chisora is 13/8 to upset the odds as both fighters aim to win a shot at Wladamir Klitschko later in the year.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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