Calzaghe-Hopkins Showdown a Step Closer

Promoter Frank Warren confirmed last night that he is close to concluding a deal that would see the undefeated Welshman Joe Calzaghe fight the veteran American Bernard Hopkins in a light-heavyweight contest in Las Vegas on April 12.

"Nothing can ever be definite until the contracts are signed," said Warren, "but the paperwork is with the lawyers, and it looks as though it will be done. It is a huge fight for both men, and it would give Joe the big American date that he has been looking for.

"I believe Joe would win, and that he could prove himself to be too strong and fast for Hopkins. But what is vital would be that Joe jumped on Hopkins from the word go. Hopkins is 42, but he is still a very clever fighter, and Joe could not allow him to settle into a rhythm that might see him steal close rounds."

Warren will have joint promotional rights with Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions, if the deal is signed, with the fight being screened in the United States on pay-per-view by HBO, while UK broadcast rights will go to Setanta Sports.

Calzaghe, 35, has proved himself to be the world's No1 super-middleweight, and holds the WBC, WBA and WBO versions of the belt, while Hopkins does not hold a major title but is recognised as the leading light heavyweight after wins over Antonio Tarver and Ronald "Winky" Wright in his past two contests at the weight.

Hopkins used the recent Ricky Hatton-Floyd Mayweather world title fight in Las Vegas to begin the pre-fight hype with Calzaghe, saying he "would never let a white boy beat me" and he has since added that a contest with Calzaghe "would be one of the biggest fights in boxing".

So far, no details of purses have been revealed, but the contest would almost certainly give Calzaghe the highest pay check of his career, beating the reported £3m he earned from his last fight, against the Dane Mikkel Kessler.

Meanwhile, it will be announced today that the all-British world cruiserweight title unification match between WBC and WBA champion David Haye and the WBO champion Enzo Maccarinelli on March 8 is to be staged at London's O2 Arena, the first world championship bout at the venue.

In Atlantic City, Paulie Malignaggi successfully defended his IBF junior-welterweight title by unanimously outpointing Cameroon's Herman Ngoudjo. "It wasn't one of my better performances, but I felt I won the fight," Malignaggi said. "At the end of the day, I have the heart of a lion and if you don't knock me out, I'm going to stay here."