NATHAN Cleverly has vowed to shut up Tony Bellew once and for all as negotiations for their British super fight get under way, the Argus can reveal.

It has been reported elsewhere that the Cleverly camp were ready to consider the challenge of Bellew in what would be a huge grudge match, but in fact the fight now seems certain to happen according to Cefn Fforest world champion Cleverly.

The WBO light-heavyweight champion had been set to meet Bellew in May for his championship coronation when Juergen Braehmer pulled out, but Bellew failed to make the weight and Cleverly beat Alexsy Kuziemski to capture the world crown that followed his capture of the British, Commonwealth and European titles.

However, Bellew did have time to attend a pre-fight press conference in which he tore into Cleverly, and after beating Ovill McKenzie at the weekend, he again re-ignited his war of words with the former Team Calzaghe man.

And now Cleverly is ready to give him a shot, even though he doesn’t feel Bellew is worthy.

“The fight should and I think will happen now, definitely, we are in the early stages of negotiations but I want it, Bellew wants it and our promoter Frank Warren wants to make it happen,” he said.

“Let’s not lie about it, I don’t believe for one second that Bellew is worthy of being in the ring with me, all he does it talk and throw abuse and really he’s not beaten anyone compared to me.

“I won the European, British and Commonwealth titles before I got onto world level, but I am willing to give Bellew a chance to shut him up more than anything.

“It’s the fight that British boxing fans want to see and that’s important, they want to see him jump the queue and I am ready to destroy him and move onto far better fighters.”

A spokesman for Warren confirmed to the Argus negotiations have begun and Cleverly insists Bellew must pay the price for being so disrespectful.

“It’s like the Wladimir Klitschko versus David Haye scenario, Bellew will be a lot more humble when I beat him up,” Cleverly said.

“He’s been unbelievably disrespectful, I went to his fight on Saturday and he said afterwards that I’m not as big a hitter as Ovill McKenzie who, with respect, is a sparring partner of mine.

“The guy lives in a fantasy world, he thinks I don’t have his power but I clearly do, I am stopping fighters at a world level and he’s never done that, nor will he.”

Cleverly had been hoping for a homecoming fight but has indicated he’s willing to travel to face Bellew, even to his backyard of Liverpool.

“I’m a professional and will fight wherever makes most sense in terms of getting people through the door,” he said.

“I’d love it to be in Wales and as the champion, I get more of a say in that really.

“But the Motorpoint Arena is probably too small, the Millennium Stadium too big at this stage maybe and the Cardiff City Stadium, which would be awesome, doesn’t have a roof.

“So if it ends up being at an arena, why not Liverpool?

“It’s just a ring at the end of the day and if I have to smash up Bellew in his hometown, that’s the way it is. I’ve got a job to do and wherever the fight is, I will do it.”