World champion Nathan Cleverly open to future Carl Froch bout

Cleverly is unbeaten in 23 professional fights

WBO light-heavyweight champion Nathan Cleverly has said he has not ruled out a future bout against Carl Froch.

Froch lost his WBC super-middleweight title following a points defeat against Andre Ward last Saturday.

Cleverly is set to defend his title for the third time against an as yet confirmed opponent on 25 February in Cardiff.

"If promoters sat together and made the fight, it could be done quite soon," said Cleverly.

"We'll have to see how it pans out but there's no reason it can't happen."

Super-middleweight Froch suffered the second defeat of his professional career against American Ward in Atlantic City.

Froch has said he would like a comeback fight in his home city of Nottingham next year after boxing overseas in his last three bouts.

Cleverly is set for a February homecoming bout at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff and his opponent is set to be confirmed during a press conference on Tuesday.

The 24-year-old defeated Aleksy Kuziemski and Tony Bellew in his two WBO title defences and will fight in Wales for the first time since 2007.

Beibut Shumenov and Bernard Hopkins have been mentioned as a future opponents but Cleverly would be open to a bout against fellow Briton Froch.

"I think it's a fight that would make sense. Two British fighters and obviously I'm only one weight division up from Carl Froch and I'm world champion," Cleverly told Sky Sports.

"It'd be a great fight for both of us and for the British public. It's inevitable that it would be an exciting fight because I know Carl likes to stand his ground and let shots go.

"Likewise with myself, I don't like taking a backward step. It could be a classic."