Sheffield's WBO cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson will make the 10th defence of his crown against Ghana's Napolean Tagoe at York Hall on November 24.

It is another mark-in-time fight for Nelson, who has held the title since stopping Carl Thompson in March 1999.

Promoter Frank Warren has made efforts to secure unification fights against the other champions Juan Carlos Gomez (WBC) and Vassily Jirov (IBF), but they are currently moving in other directions.

And it is likely that Nelson could campaign as a heavyweight while still holding on to his cruiser championship.

Nelson's last defence was a points verdict over Marcelo Dominguez in July.

And the champion still reckons that his first defence - against Bruce Scott - was his toughest.

"He was hungry and he seriously believed he could win," said Nelson. "He gave me a wake up call.

"The rest of them, not for a second, had any doubts, not even Carl Thompson.

"I've boxed the best the other countries have had to offer, that's what a world champion does.

"And what I do in boxing is simple, but very effective."

Tagoe has won 21 of his 24 bouts, and one of his three defeats came against Gomez in a challenge for the WBC title in Hamburg 22 months ago.