Nathan Cleverly has claimed that his pace in the ring will be the difference when he meets Tony Bellew next month.

Bellew is looking to settle the score with his British rival after he lost their first bout in 2011, but Cleverly is certain that his fitness will allow him to dominate the fight at the Echo Arena.

"I will win this fight because overall I'm a much better athlete than Tony Bellew," the former WBO light heavyweight world champion told Sky Sports News. "As I've said, he's too fat and too slow. Speed kills and that's going to be the difference on fight night.

"I would say, being honest, Bellew has the edge in power. He's naturally the bigger puncher, but that's his only asset that's better than mine.

"My assets – I'm faster than this guy, fitter than this guy, I've got more punch variation than this guy and overall I've have too many tools for this guy."

Cleverly has lost just one of his 29 professional bouts, while Bellew has been defeated twice in 25 fights.