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Joe Calzaghe vs Clinton Woods
Clinton Woods says talks have opened over a British super-fight between himself and Joe Calzaghe in 2008.
Sheffield's Woods, the IBF light-heavyweight champion, said he would be ready for a match in March.
"There's been talks and money's been offered. I could be ready in March or April," Woods told BBC Sport.
"I'd be a massive underdog, but I'd fancy my chances against him. And for the British public, it's far bigger than Calzaghe against Bernard Hopkins."
Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren declined to comment on a possible match-up between the two men.
Newbridge's undisputed super-middleweight champion Calzaghe, 35, targeted American legend Hopkins following his victory over Mikkel Kessler earlier this month.
Warren apparently opened talks with Hopkins' representatives, Golden Boy Promotions, over a possible match in New York in the spring.
I don't know how many fights I'm going to have before I retire, but I feel fresh as a daisy
Clinton Woods
But Hopkins, a notoriously tough negotiator, has been told by his trainer to forget about a fight with Calzaghe and instead seek a rematch with old rival Roy Jones Jr.
Fellow American Jones Jr beat Hopkins at middleweight in 1993 before the latter embarked on a 12-year unbeaten run in that division.
And Woods added: "Calzaghe's not going to prove anything by beating a 42-year-old Hopkins.
"The British public aren't worried about the Hopkins fight. He lost two against Jermain Taylor [in 2005], who's just been beaten by Kelly Pavlik.
"I think Roy Jones would be a better fight for Hopkins because there's still a bit of needle between them. I still think Roy Jones is a force to be reckoned with, in his last two fights he's looked very good."
However Woods, who has made four defences of his IBF belt, is aware that a clash with Calzaghe is far from being set in stone, especially as the Welshman allegedly turned down an offer to fight Woods last year.
"There are negotiations going on between [Woods' promoter] Dennis Hobson and Frank Warren for the Calzaghe fight.
"But I don't really listen to what they're saying until I know for definite. You know boxing - it's on, it's off, it's on, it's off again, so I'm just waiting for them to finally set a date.
"I need to improve 20-30% from the last fight [a unanimous points win over Julio Cesar Gonzalez in September], but I know I can beat him. I wouldn't fight him if I didn't know I can beat him.
"Financially I'm all right but I just want to fight the best. We're both 35 and he wants to win a light-heavyweight title.
"I don't know how many fights I'm going to have before I retire, but I feel fresh as a daisy. I've started running and I'm not even a stone above my weight."
Woods added that he is likely to fight WBC light-heavyweight champion Chad Dawson if a fight with Calzaghe does not come off.
Interesting. I'd be up for this. Not the right choice for Calzaghe IMO...but if it happnes...Calzaghe UD.
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Originally Posted by TYSONBRUNO
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