Cleverly is looking for the next step up after claiming European glory

By Sean Davies BBC Sport

No sooner had Nathan Cleverly strapped the European light-heavyweight belt around his waist than the questions began on where his apparently inexorable rise would take him next.

The undefeated Welshman's fifth-round stoppage of Antonio Brancalion was the 22-year-old's 19th successive victory of a five-year career.

The aggressive and impressive display saw Johnny Nelson clamouring to join the likes of Barry McGuigan in predicting a future world title as an inevitability for the man from Cefn Fforest.

Cleverly will delay such ambitions until at least the end of the year.

He competes his final university exams in May and has targeted a well-earned voluntary European defence in either April or June.

Would-be light-heavyweight kings need to get past gatekeeper Johnson

After that, the real plans for world domination should begin, promoter Frank Warren reportedly keeping his eye on German Karo Murat, the WBO's mandatory challenger.

Cleverly is ranked 10th by Ring Magazine in its evaluation of the world's best light-heavyweights.

The major names in the division include Bernard Hopkins, Roy Jones Jr, Antonio Tarver and Chad Dawson.

The recognised world titles at the weight are held by Jean Pascal (WBC), Tavoris Cloud (IBF), Gabriel Campillo (WBA) and Juergen Braehmer (WBO).

The options for Cleverly are legion, and the intricacies of boxing politics multitudinal.

But the most calculated path for his mathematical mind could be a meeting with the 'Road Warrior', Glen Johnson.

The 41-year-old Miami-based Jamaican is one of the most experienced and respected operators in the game.

A chronological excerpt of his 17-year, 63-fight career, would break down as: lauded prospect; Bernard Hopkins victim; frequently robbed journeyman opponent; unlikely IBF world champion; Roy Jones conqueror; ex-champion and gatekeeper of the division.

Somewhere in there were three planned bouts with Cleverly's former mentor and sparring partner Joe Calzaghe that fell through - much to the fury of Johnson - because of injuries to the Welshman.

Although some distance short of superstar status, Johnson is a big name in United States boxing circles, a market that someone of Cleverly's ability must surely have his eyes on.

Last November, he suffered his second points loss to Dawson, who is ranked by The Ring as the number-one light-heavyweight in the world.

But any thoughts that age had caught up with the veteran were dispelled by a sixth-round knock-out of Yusaf Mack in an IBF title eliminator earlier this month.

606: DEBATE Who should Cleverly face next?

Johnson proudly boasts: "My reputation goes before me, I will fight anywhere.

"I've always fought in people's back yard, I'll take on all-comers anywhere."

The Jamaican remains a highly dangerous operator at the highest level, but the feeling is that, in his fifth decade, he needs an opponent who will stand in front of him.

Mack did that and paid the price, while the slick Dawson kept his distance and reaped the rewards.

Johnson would be a major step up for a youngster like Cleverly.

But with his skills and speed he could be the man to bring the Road Warrior's journey to a close and to set himself on the fast lane.

*Exclusive, behind-the-scenes footage with Cleverly from the Brancalion bout on this Friday's Sport Wales, BBC TWO Wales, 2100 GMT

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