Boxing:Joe Calzaghe's camp have told Bernard Hopkins to put up or shut up. The 42-year-old American last night responded to Calzaghe's challenge and declared he is ready to fight the new undisputed world super-middleweight champion.
But despite positive noises from both camps, it would appear some tough negotiations lie ahead before any deal can be done. Hopkins remains a big name in the United States, largely for his exploits as an explosive middleweight champion between 1995 and 2005.
But promoter Frank Warren warned Hopkins any deal would have to reflect Calzaghe is now the draw after his weekend victory over Mikkel Kessler was shown live on prime-time American television.
And Warren indicated that if Hopkins ducks the fight, it would be because "he knows he will be beaten by Joe Calzaghe".
Warren said: "The ball is in his court. What has he got ahead of him? He has a rematch with Winky Wright, which I am sure Prozac would be queuing up to sponsor, or he has a fight with Chad Dawson which no-one cares about.
"Bernard keeps saying what a big name he is. But is he a big-name fighter? Does he draw crowds like these other fighters? No he doesn't. Taking Joe on means that if there is £100 on the table, he can't take £99 of it. He is not the attraction.
"Joe Calzaghe has had a couple of fights now that have gone out on prime-time American TV and he delivered the goods, against Jeff Lacey and against Kessler. We will go to the States, no problem. It will generate more money here but it is not about that. It is about getting the fight on. The indications are we have got a chance of doing this."
Warren is aiming for a date in March or April and made initial contact with Hopkins' representatives yesterday. Calzaghe would be prepared to fight in the United States for the first time and even move up to light-heavyweight if necessary.
Warren added: "Bernard Hopkins is a student of boxing and he knows that he will be beaten by Joe Calzaghe. That is why I think we will struggle to get him to claim this fight."
Hopkins is known to be a tough negotiator and Warren had his fingers burned five years ago when the American suddenly doubled his demands just 24 hours after a deal to fight Calzaghe had been agreed.