By Mark Vester
Following Joe Calzaghe's unification win over Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, Wales, promoter Frank Warren sent a message to recognized light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins. He wants Hopkins to step up to the challenge and fight Calzaghe. Warren is talking to HBO, hoping the network giant steps in and makes the fight happen.
"He's got no way out of this," Warren said. "Whatever way he wants it he can have it as long as Joe gets well paid. So there's no excuses. Be a (Sugar) Ray Leonard. Be a Marvin Hagler. That's what we want to see from Bernard Hopkins. He can pick the date, he can pick the town. Joe Calzaghe will go to the States to fight Mr. Hopkins in his home town, Philadelphia. He will fight him anywhere it takes to put the fight on. If Bernard Hopkins is the warrior he says he is then make the fight."
After winning a wide decision over Kessler to unify the WBC/WBA/WBO super middleweight titles, Calzaghe sees nothing left to accomplish at 168 and is taking full aim at Hopkins for a light heavyweight showdown at 175.
"I have always said I never avoided anybody and, given the opportunity to fight the best, I will show them what I'm all about," Calzaghe said. "I want a new goal," Calzaghe said. "I've beaten the best guys at super-middleweight and there's nothing else for me to prove. I want to fight the big fighters, the legends."
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