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By Ben Rumsby, PA Sport
Joe Calzaghe has hinted he will hang up his gloves after a planned super-fight with Roy Jones Jr this autumn.
The unbeaten Welshman is confident of wrapping up a deal with the American icon but concedes he may have to agree for the bout to take place in the United States.
Calzaghe, 36, told BBC Radio Wales: "What a perfect way to finish my career by fighting one of the greats of this generation."
Jones has previously expressed a desire to to fight Calzaghe, who became the undisputed king of the super-middleweight division before stepping up to light-heavyweight to beat Bernard Hopkins on a spilt points decision in April.
Calzaghe survived an early knockdown to extend his winning streak to 45 bouts in Las Vegas but believes he will face an even tougher challenge against 39-year-old Jones.
"It'll be the fight of my life," said Calzaghe, who is hoping promoter Frank Warren can finalise negotiations on a £5million autumn showdown.
"I haven't started training yet, but once a date is confirmed, I'll get back down to business.
"Fighting the greatest fighter of the 1990s would be the perfect way to finish off my career. But he'll be fighting the greatest fighter of the millennium.
"This is a case of famous last words but I think that'll probably be it for me so my message to my fans is enjoy it now because after this year, it'll be the end.
"The best night of my life was beating Chris Eubank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title in 1997 but the proudest moment of my career was becoming undisputed champion by beating Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff last year.
"I'd love my last fight to be at home in Cardiff but it all comes down to business and what the TV companies want."
Calzaghe is the longest-reigning current world champion, having held his WBO super-middleweight belt for almost 11 years.
The Newbridge-based star ruled out fighting rising star Kelly Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, despite promoter Warren admitting "it would be a great fight".
Pavlik saw off Gary Lockett in Atlantic City last weekend but stable-mate Calzaghe said: "Pavlik is a very good fighter and looked impressive against Gary but I'm in a different league.
"Kelly is just establishing himself and is not a big as star as Roy Jones Jr - he's a legend.
"Pavlik's got the world at his feet at middleweight or super-middleweight and will want to build his unbeaten record, rather than stepping up at least one weight category to face me.
"Me and Roy Jones Jr wouldn't just be a fight, but a spectacular event."
Joe Calzaghe has hinted he will hang up his gloves after a planned super-fight with Roy Jones Jr this autumn.
The unbeaten Welshman is confident of wrapping up a deal with the American icon but concedes he may have to agree for the bout to take place in the United States.
Calzaghe, 36, told BBC Radio Wales: "What a perfect way to finish my career by fighting one of the greats of this generation."
Jones has previously expressed a desire to to fight Calzaghe, who became the undisputed king of the super-middleweight division before stepping up to light-heavyweight to beat Bernard Hopkins on a spilt points decision in April.
Calzaghe survived an early knockdown to extend his winning streak to 45 bouts in Las Vegas but believes he will face an even tougher challenge against 39-year-old Jones.
"It'll be the fight of my life," said Calzaghe, who is hoping promoter Frank Warren can finalise negotiations on a £5million autumn showdown.
"I haven't started training yet, but once a date is confirmed, I'll get back down to business.
"Fighting the greatest fighter of the 1990s would be the perfect way to finish off my career. But he'll be fighting the greatest fighter of the millennium.
"This is a case of famous last words but I think that'll probably be it for me so my message to my fans is enjoy it now because after this year, it'll be the end.
"The best night of my life was beating Chris Eubank for the vacant WBO super-middleweight title in 1997 but the proudest moment of my career was becoming undisputed champion by beating Mikkel Kessler in Cardiff last year.
"I'd love my last fight to be at home in Cardiff but it all comes down to business and what the TV companies want."
Calzaghe is the longest-reigning current world champion, having held his WBO super-middleweight belt for almost 11 years.
The Newbridge-based star ruled out fighting rising star Kelly Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, despite promoter Warren admitting "it would be a great fight".
Pavlik saw off Gary Lockett in Atlantic City last weekend but stable-mate Calzaghe said: "Pavlik is a very good fighter and looked impressive against Gary but I'm in a different league.
"Kelly is just establishing himself and is not a big as star as Roy Jones Jr - he's a legend.
"Pavlik's got the world at his feet at middleweight or super-middleweight and will want to build his unbeaten record, rather than stepping up at least one weight category to face me.
"Me and Roy Jones Jr wouldn't just be a fight, but a spectacular event."
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