WBO light heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly could be in line for a £5million clash with Bernard Hopkins following his thrilling title defence over Tony Bellew at the weekend. The unbeaten Welshman showed astonishing fitness and a cement chin as he came from behind and absorbed some blockbuster shots from Bellew to dominate the final rounds and just edge out his game rival by a majority decision in Liverpool's ECHO Arena on Saturday.

Now Cleverly's promoter Frank Warren is looking to match him against Hopkins at Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium in 2012. 46-year-old Hopkins lost his WBC world title in controversial fashion to fellow American Chad Dawson at the Staples Center in Los Angeles on Saturday night. 

Dawson shoved Hopkins to the canvas in the second round, and the Philadelphian veteran claimed he damaged his left shoulder in the fall. Hopkins wanted to continue, but the ringside doctor told him he couldn't. Surprisingly, the referee ruled Dawson a 2nd round TKO winner, when it seemed to everyone else the bout should be ruled a No Contest. 

The Hopkins camp have subsequently lodged an official complaint with both the California State Athletic Commission and the World Boxing Council. If the result is overturned and changed to a No Contest, Hopkins will be re-installed as WBC champion, and an immediate rematch is likely to be ordered. 

Despite the result, Frank Warren is still keen to bring Hopkins to Britain next year: ''Hopkins' loss was controversial, so I’m still keen to make the fight.'' said Warren. ''The way you beat Hopkins is with speed and Nathan has got the tools.''

24 year old Cleverly (23-0, 11 KO's) is confident he can beat Hopkins, but he is also targeting WBA champion Beibut Shumenov and ultimately Dawson. Speaking of his victory over Bellew, Cleverly said: ''Deep down I was enjoying it, slugging it out and putting on a display. If I wanted respect as a world champion, I had to take on a dangerous opponent in his hometown. The rematch (with Bellew) could happen, but I would like a unification with Shumenov or Hopkins.''

Another Welshman, the great Joe Calzaghe defeated Hopkins in Las Vegas in 2008.

''Calzaghe told me myself I could beat Hopkins because he won't like my style. It's a fight that could happen next, if not Shumenov''