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Wales' WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe has thrown down the gauntlet to Roy Jones Jr.
Few would care to cross Jones, the undisputed light-heavyweight king and a man recently nominated as Fighter of the Decade.
Yet Calzaghe is unworried: "I have no fear whatsoever of Jones... I would jump on the next plane to the States and defend my title against him in his own backyard if the opportunity arose," he said.
Calzaghe's comments came after Jones hinted he may step down a weight for his next fight, following a disappointing display against Eric Harding.
I am the best super-middleweight in the world and I am out to prove that I am the best fighter on the planet
Jones' eleventh-round victory in that fight took his record to 43-1, including 35 knock-outs.
Many experts still regard Jones as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but Calzaghe may sense that he has the chance of a victory that would put his name on the lips of the boxing world.
The undefeated Calzaghe was certainly talking the language that fight promoters like to hear:
Roy Jones did not impress against Eric Harding
"I am the best super-middleweight in the world and I am out to prove that I am the best fighter on the planet. If Jones disagrees, lets get it on," he said.
"Jones is supposed to be the best fighter in the world at the moment. A showdown between us has got to happen to prove who is the best."
Calzaghe looked to be back to his best after destroying the highly rated American challenger Omar Sheika in the fifth round of a thrilling fight at the Wembley Conference Centre in August.
It was possibly his best performance since he claimed the title in a magnificent encounter with Chris Eubank. Since that fight his work has been disappointing, though this could be blamed on a series of hand injuries that have disrupted his preparations.
I am close to making the fight happen and when it does we will see who is the best in the world
"The Sheika fight was the turning point for me," said Calzaghe.
"He was a dangerous fighter and he brought out the best in me. I believe against Jones, who is leagues above Sheika, you will see the best of Joe Calzaghe."
Frank Warren, Calzaghe's promoter, is trying to finalise a deal with Jones' promoter Murad Muhammed and is talking to the WBO to make the fight happen.
"Roy says he has difficulty in finding opponents but he has Joe Calzaghe - the best fighter in the division - waiting to fight him and ready to put his title on the line.
"I am close to making the fight happen and when it does we will see who is the best in the world," said Warren.
Few would care to cross Jones, the undisputed light-heavyweight king and a man recently nominated as Fighter of the Decade.
Yet Calzaghe is unworried: "I have no fear whatsoever of Jones... I would jump on the next plane to the States and defend my title against him in his own backyard if the opportunity arose," he said.
Calzaghe's comments came after Jones hinted he may step down a weight for his next fight, following a disappointing display against Eric Harding.
I am the best super-middleweight in the world and I am out to prove that I am the best fighter on the planet
Jones' eleventh-round victory in that fight took his record to 43-1, including 35 knock-outs.
Many experts still regard Jones as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, but Calzaghe may sense that he has the chance of a victory that would put his name on the lips of the boxing world.
The undefeated Calzaghe was certainly talking the language that fight promoters like to hear:
Roy Jones did not impress against Eric Harding
"I am the best super-middleweight in the world and I am out to prove that I am the best fighter on the planet. If Jones disagrees, lets get it on," he said.
"Jones is supposed to be the best fighter in the world at the moment. A showdown between us has got to happen to prove who is the best."
Calzaghe looked to be back to his best after destroying the highly rated American challenger Omar Sheika in the fifth round of a thrilling fight at the Wembley Conference Centre in August.
It was possibly his best performance since he claimed the title in a magnificent encounter with Chris Eubank. Since that fight his work has been disappointing, though this could be blamed on a series of hand injuries that have disrupted his preparations.
I am close to making the fight happen and when it does we will see who is the best in the world
"The Sheika fight was the turning point for me," said Calzaghe.
"He was a dangerous fighter and he brought out the best in me. I believe against Jones, who is leagues above Sheika, you will see the best of Joe Calzaghe."
Frank Warren, Calzaghe's promoter, is trying to finalise a deal with Jones' promoter Murad Muhammed and is talking to the WBO to make the fight happen.
"Roy says he has difficulty in finding opponents but he has Joe Calzaghe - the best fighter in the division - waiting to fight him and ready to put his title on the line.
"I am close to making the fight happen and when it does we will see who is the best in the world," said Warren.
They never wanted a prime Calzaghe.
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