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British super-middleweight champion Carl Froch insists he would step up to light-heavyweight to force a showdown with Welsh hero Joe Calzaghe.
Undefeated Froch, 30, defends his domestic crown against former WBC champion Robin Reid in Nottingham on Friday - but it is Calzaghe he wants.
Froch told BBC Sport: "Joe says he wants to fight Hopkins but people would rather watch an all-British fight.
"And I'd be more than happy to step up a weight to face him."
He added: "I can understand if Joe says he's struggling to make the weight at super-middle, it happens to everyone.
"But I'm also big at this weight and I'd have no problem on bulking up six more pounds or so to face him at his preferred weight.
"It would be a shame if the fight never happened because I'd think there is real interest, but I just don't think Calzaghe really wants it, although he should."
Calzaghe is multi-belt holder at super middleweight
Calzaghe added the WBA and WBC versions of the 168lb division to his collection last weekend with victory over Dane Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff, and wants to move up for a clash with American ring legend Bernard Hopkins.
Froch also set his sets on another British world champion, Clinton Woods, who holds the IBF light-heavyweight belt.
"He's another option for me. I know that if I went in the ring with either of those two I could beat them. I'm not saying Calzaghe and Woods aren't good, but I feel I could take them."
Not that Froch is taking Reid lightly.
The 36-year-old "Grim Reaper", from Runcorn, has fought his way back after his unsuccessful crack at former Calzaghe victim Jeff Lacy's IBF super-middleweight title in Florida in August 2005.
His last fight was in March when he out-pointed Las Vegan Jesse Brinkley in Newcastle.
Reid successfully defended the WBC belt three times back in 1997. He also lost narrowly on points when challenging Calzaghe for his WBO belt in February 1999.
"It's important I put on a good show against Reid," Froch said. "He's an experienced fighter but after two rounds in there with me he'd wish he hadn't taken the fight.
"I actually thought he won that fight against Joe and was unlucky not to move on from there. But I'll be just too good for him.
"It's important I cement myself as the WBC's number one contender at super-middleweight and then wait for the big fights to come along.
"If Calzaghe moves up and vacates his WBC title I don't want to just inherit it as that would be unsatisfactory for me. What I'd rather do is face him and beat him fair and square and show I'm number one."
Undefeated Froch, 30, defends his domestic crown against former WBC champion Robin Reid in Nottingham on Friday - but it is Calzaghe he wants.
Froch told BBC Sport: "Joe says he wants to fight Hopkins but people would rather watch an all-British fight.
"And I'd be more than happy to step up a weight to face him."
He added: "I can understand if Joe says he's struggling to make the weight at super-middle, it happens to everyone.
"But I'm also big at this weight and I'd have no problem on bulking up six more pounds or so to face him at his preferred weight.
"It would be a shame if the fight never happened because I'd think there is real interest, but I just don't think Calzaghe really wants it, although he should."
Calzaghe is multi-belt holder at super middleweight
Calzaghe added the WBA and WBC versions of the 168lb division to his collection last weekend with victory over Dane Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff, and wants to move up for a clash with American ring legend Bernard Hopkins.
Froch also set his sets on another British world champion, Clinton Woods, who holds the IBF light-heavyweight belt.
"He's another option for me. I know that if I went in the ring with either of those two I could beat them. I'm not saying Calzaghe and Woods aren't good, but I feel I could take them."
Not that Froch is taking Reid lightly.
The 36-year-old "Grim Reaper", from Runcorn, has fought his way back after his unsuccessful crack at former Calzaghe victim Jeff Lacy's IBF super-middleweight title in Florida in August 2005.
His last fight was in March when he out-pointed Las Vegan Jesse Brinkley in Newcastle.
Reid successfully defended the WBC belt three times back in 1997. He also lost narrowly on points when challenging Calzaghe for his WBO belt in February 1999.
"It's important I put on a good show against Reid," Froch said. "He's an experienced fighter but after two rounds in there with me he'd wish he hadn't taken the fight.
"I actually thought he won that fight against Joe and was unlucky not to move on from there. But I'll be just too good for him.
"It's important I cement myself as the WBC's number one contender at super-middleweight and then wait for the big fights to come along.
"If Calzaghe moves up and vacates his WBC title I don't want to just inherit it as that would be unsatisfactory for me. What I'd rather do is face him and beat him fair and square and show I'm number one."
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