Yep you heard it from the horses mouth: It was verbally agreed for Hopkins at one point. Golden Boy Promotions had agreed it. I had agreed to it. We were all set to go but then he obviously passed up on the fight...". Source: http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/174595-cleverly-misses-out-on-hopkins-froch-shumenov :yep
there is a "duck" and there is a i dont give a **** hopkins doesnt give a **** about cleverly...that doesnt constitute a duck
If Hopkins doesnt retire, then there isnt anything really out there for him in terms of money and a decent opponent @ LHW. Those at SMW either have up and coming fights, or aren't going to moving up anytime soon. At his age, going to CW, although his defence is good, is asking to be KO'd. Cleverly = young, hungry lion, undefeated, for the wbo strap (a belt none the less), it would do numbers at Cardiff Millennium Stadium, the PPV from UK and US wouldn't be bad either.
Of course they are dude. Look at who cleverlys been destroying. Bellew, karpency and err... Kusemski? And now hes fighting the guy no one wanted any part of... Uzelkov! Shame on these duckers:-( Dawson moved out of his weight class to avoid clev to take an easy fight with Ward.
Nobody is ducking Cleverly, they just didn't want to fight. But please don't deny that Frank offered the fight to good fighters.