After announcing at a heated press conference that Bellew would face British rival Cleverly for the title, the British Boxing Board of Control then KO'd the grudge match from happening because of weight issues.
The board would not sanction the clash for the WBO belt as the Liverpool boxer was too heavy and so Cleverly will instead face Poland's Aleksy Kuziemski for the world crown.
Commonwealth champion Bellew, 28, had been drafted in to replace Juergen Braehmer - the German who was yesterday stripped of the WBO belt for pulling out of facing Cleverly after claiming he had been cut in sparring.
Unbeaten Welshman Cleverly, 24, was made WBO champion without throwing a punch because he held the interim title and was then told he would be facing British rival Bellew in a first defence. But a third opponent had to be drafted in last night for Cleverly, who will now face Kuziemski at the O2 Arena in London.
Earlier, Cleverly and Bellew nearly got their fight started early as they had to be separated at a press conference.
Promoter Frank Warren said: "I'm disappointed at what's happened and gutted for the fans."
Kuziemski, at No.11, is three places higher in the rankings than Bellew.
British super-middleweight champion James DeGale yesterday challenged rival George Groves to a £320,000 winner-takes-all bet but the board stopped it from happening.
The 2008 Olympic gold medallist, who will fight Groves tomorrow, told his opponent: "I will cover your wage. The bet is that I will beat you."
The Londoners shook on it but Groves' trainer Adam Booth later checked with British bosses who ruled out the wager.
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