By Rick Reeno
During last week's conference call to promote Saturday's rematch with Roy Jones Jr. at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Bernard Hopkins told media members he plans to target the winner of this weekend's heavyweight encounter between David Haye and John Ruiz, who clash for the WBA title in Manchester.
Hopkins is a partner in Golden Boy Promotions, who represent both Haye and Ruiz. Provided he beat Jones, and most expect him to do so, Hopkins believes a deal can be easily made with either heavyweight because of their promotional linkage.
"I want to fight the winner of that fight and they are both under Golden Boy Promotions," Hopkins said.
Making a deal with the Haye-Ruiz winner may not be as easy as Hopkins believes. According to Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer, both heavyweights are requesting the same post-fight scenario - they want one of the Klitschko brothers next.
"I told him [Hopkins] that both Ruiz and Haye have expressed an interest to fight [Wladimir] Klitschko. But you never know. Yes it is possibly, but I think they are going to go to where the bigger payday is. And if its Hopkins, then that's where they will go, but I think they are going to go for one of the Klitschkos," Schaefer told BoxingScene.com.
Vitali Klitschko defends his WBC title against heavy underdog Albert Sosnowksi on May 29. Wladimir Klitschko, who holds the IBF/IBO/WBO titles, is exploring the possibility of a mandatory defense against unbeaten Alexander Povetkin.
If a fight with the Haye/Ruiz winner comes along, Wladimir can submit a request for an exception to postpone the Povetkin defense. There is absolutely no certainty that the IBF will grant Wladimir's request, but his chances are good because the sanctioning body is lenient when it comes to exceptions involving the postponement of a mandatory in order to take a unification fight.
