Calzaghe tempted by Pavlik bout

Joe Calzaghe has reiterated that he would only consider dropping back down to super-middleweight for a bout with Kelly Pavlik.

The Welshman underlined his status as the best fighter in the world at 168lbs with an impressive points victory over the previously undefeated Mikkel Kessler in an epic unification title fight last November.
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However, Calzaghe has turned his back on the division he dominated for a decade and is currently readying himself for a mouth-watering light-heavyweight showdown with Bernard Hopkins.

After stepping up to 175lbs, and previously stating that he only intends to fight once more after his meeting with Hopkins, Calzaghe has little interest in dropping back down to super-middleweight for his farewell bout.

However, he would consider it if a fight could be arranged with the current middleweight champion Pavlik.

”I’m probably finished with super-middleweight. I’ll have to wait and see. I’ll have to weigh up my options after this fight,” Calzaghe mused in an interview with Setanta Sports News.

”I’m still the super-middleweight champion of the world but, realistically, the only fight that I’d consider coming back down for would be against Kelly Pavlik.

”He’s an excellent fighter and he beat Jermain Taylor again earlier this year so that’s the only big fight for me at super-middleweight.

”I beat the top dog in the division, Mikkel Kessler, quite convincingly so it was time for pastures new. And, after I sort out Bernard Hopkins, you’ve got Roy Jones, the winner of Clinton Woods against Antonio Tarver. Or, as I said, Pavlik. They're the only names that interest me.”

For the time being, though, Calzaghe is solely focused on Hopkins.

The Executioner has generated much controversy in the lead-up to their Las Vegas bout, most notably by saying that he could not see himself losing to a "white boy".

There are those that believe that Hopkins' outbursts have unsettled Calzaghe but the man himself insists he has been completely unaffected by the trash-talking.

“Talk is cheap. Dogs that bark don’t always bite. I don’t really care about the mind games or all the things that Hopkins is saying," he stated.

"At the end of the day, if I go there and perform the way I can perform, I’m going to win.

“Obviously, Hopkins has been around a long time and I’ve got the utmost respect for the guy but he’s 43 – his time has come.

“It’s time for him to retire and I’m the man to send him into retirement.

”People keep saying he’s getting under my skin but I think it’s been really funny.

"For a 43-year-old man to come out with some of the things he’s said is hilarious.

"It might intimidate a 21-year-old kid who’s just started boxing before but you have to remember I’m 36 and I’ve been in this game since I was nine years old.

"I said to him already, ‘you can be the bad guy in the lead-up to the fight but, believe me, when you get into that ring on April 19, I’m going to be the bad guy!’”