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Now that HBO's exclusive negotiating window to land a potential super middleweight summit between champions Joe Calzaghe (43-0, 32 KOs) and Mikkel Kessler (39-0, 29 KOs) has expired, rival Showtime is making a move on the fight.


Before Calzaghe jumped to HBO last fall, Calzaghe's American TV home was Showtime, which is interested in bringing the Welsh star back.

Showtime has offered Calzaghe a two-fight contract. If the deal is made, the first bout would come this fall with the Kessler fight coming in the first quarter of 2008. The primary reason Showtime would wait until next year for the Kessler bout is because the fight's price -- organizers want $5 million for it from a U.S. network -- does not fit into the network's remaining 2007 budget.

Showtime would like Calzaghe's interim bout to come against light heavyweight titlist Chad Dawson, who would drop down to 168 pounds. Dawson's promoter Gary Shaw told ESPN.com his side is willing to make the fight. Shaw is also talking to Showtime about Dawson in a light heavyweight defense against former champ Antonio Tarver on Sept. 29.

"Showtime made a very aggressive offer so we're confident there will at least be a fight for Joe [in 2007]," said Jay Larkin, the former Showtime boxing chief now serving as Calzaghe promoter Frank Warren's U.S. representative.

Larkin said although they are talking to Showtime, they also continue talking to HBO about Calzaghe-Kessler for the fall without an interim bout. Larkin said Calzaghe badly wants to fight Kessler and doesn't want to put the fight off until next year.

"Talks are going on amicably and we are waiting for their response," Larkin said of HBO.

HBO would like to make Calzaghe-Kessler in the fall, but the network and promoters are apart on money.

HBO could be waiting to see what happens with heavyweight titlist Wladimir Klitschko in his Saturday fight against Lamon Brewster before committing so much money to Calzaghe-Kessler. The network has Klitschko under contract and if he wins and fights again this year, it will be a drain on the budget. If Klitschko opts not to fight again in the fall, it could free up money to go toward Calzaghe-Kessler.