Kelly Pavlik warns Joe Calzaghe to get ready for the fight of his life

By Steve Royce, sundaymirror.co.uk 20/07/2008

Joe Calzaghe (Pic: Getty Images)

America's new boxing idol Kelly Pavlik has warned Joe Calzaghe to get ready for the fight of his life next year.

Pavlik is the unbeaten middleweight champion of the world and he has captured the hearts and minds of boxing fans stateside.

"A fight between me and Calzaghe is one of the best fights out there and my fans want it to happen," said Pavlik, who takes an army of 10,000 fans whenever he fights.

Calzaghe is due to fight Roy Jones on September 20 at Madison Square Garden in New York and has recently performed a dramatic Uturn on his desire to retire. It now looks likely that the Welshman will fight Pavlik if they both carry on winning.

A fight between the two would be a pay-per-view blockbuster and Calzaghe could pocket £20million from the skirmish.

He said: "I've never ruled out a fight with Pavlik and, after Jones, I'll look closely at the situation."

Pavlik has planned an audacious fight against former Calzaghe foe Bernard Hopkins in Atlantic City on October 18 in an attempt at embarrassing Calzaghe into the ring.

In April, Calzaghe survived a knockdown to win a close decision over Hopkins in Las Vegas and Pavlik is confident that he can do a better job.

"Calzaghe has been a great champion and I want to test myself against him," said Pavlik. "I truly believe boxing fans all over the world are demanding a Pavlik-Calzaghe fight.

"I will do everything I can to make it happen and deliver a good, honest fight. I hear that Calzaghe is a straight guy, a man of the people, and that is exactly what I am."

Last month Pavlik destroyed Calzaghe's friend and training partner, Gary Lockett, in three brutal rounds and then sent an ominous message to Calzaghe.

"I'm coming for him - and I just hope he hangs around long enough to fight me," Pavlik warned during his post-fight interview.

Pavlik also plans to fly to New York to watch the Calzaghe-Jones fight and then he hopes to be able to sit down with Calzaghe to plan their fight.

"I'm concentrating on beating Jones and looking good doing it and I respect Pavlik, so we will just wait and see," added Calzaghe, who last month split with his promoter of 12 years, Frank Warren.

The Calzaghe-Jones fight will be promoted by the two boxers, who met in secret three months ago to arrange their showdown.

Calzaghe will be represented in all future fights by the football agent Paul Stretford.