By Mark Vester
After a planned February bout with light heavyweight Glen Johnson went bust after he lost a split decision to IBF champ Clinton Woods, super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has turned his attention to fighting Woods. Calzagher revealed to the UK media that negotiations for a bout with Woods have already begun.
The only problem with a Woods bout is the fact that it has no value in America, where Calzaghe is looking to make a name for himself. Calzaghe would have liked Johnson to win in order to have a bout in America next year, but felt Woods deserved to win the split verdict, and hopes to meet him on UK soil in 2007.
"When I was watching the fight live I thought that Clinton probably did edge it," Calzaghe added. But Johnson would have been a bigger fight in America, a bigger pay-day for me. He knocked-out Roy Jones and beat Antonio Tarver, it would have been a lot more credit for me to beat Glen Johnson. The only memory they have of Clinton Woods in America is of him getting beat by Roy Jones, so a fight with Woods would be harder to sell. But Frank is speaking with Woods' guys and it would be great for me if I get the fight, we'll have to wait and see."
First Calzaghe must beat Sakio Bika when he defends his IBF/WBO titles in Manchester's MEN Arena on October 14.
"Although the talk is of a fight with Woods or fights next year, I can't take my eyes off the ball," Calzaghe said. "This guy is going to come to win and if I'm not prepared then that's a danger for me. I've not actually seen him fight yet but from what I understand he was a good amateur, boxed in the Olympics and now bases himself in Australia. He's only lost once, and that was on a close decision four years ago, and since then he's gone undefeated.
