By Mark Vester
According to a recent interview with promoter Frank Warren, the two preferred choices to face undisputed super middleweight champ Joe Calzaghe are Bernard Hopkins, who is the recognized champion at light heavyweight, and current middleweight champion Kelly Pavlik. IBF light heavyweight champ Clinton Woods is also said to be in the mix.
Warren told The Times, that Hopkins is the most likely option to face Calzaghe in June. Warren confirmed that Golden Boy Promotions made an opening offer to hold a Calzaghe-Hopkins clash in the United States, either in New York's Madison Square Garden or in a Las Vegas venue.
He said the offer from Golden Boy "fell short of expectations" and the fight was taking place later than preferred. Warren says June would be too long of a layoff for Calzaghe, who last fought on November 3. The same problem comes with a possible clash with Pavlik, who takes on Jermain Taylor in a rematch on Feb. 16, and would likely be unavailable for a fight until July.
“Hopkins or Pavlik would be the preferred option,” Warren said. “Because Pavlik has a fight first, we would be looking at July and we would really want a date before then. Golden Boy have made an offer, but we will have to see what happens. They are looking at a June date, but we would want earlier as that would mean Joe had not boxed in seven months.”
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