Where next for Calzaghe?

WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe is still searching for a 'superfight' - we take a look at potential opponents and the likelihood of the match being made.

Glen Johnson

Pros

Victory would give Calzaghe the IBF light-heavyweight crown, making him a two-weight champion

Johnson is a solid fighter, but at 35 is entering the veteran phase

The Miami boxer is prepared to travel to meet Calzaghe on his own terms

The IBF belt is a prestigious prize that would leave Calzaghe in a strong bargaining position

Cons

Johnson knows how much Calzaghe wants his belt and could try to dictate terms over purse and venue

Johnson is strong and experienced and would let Calzaghe know all about the demands of fighting at a new weight

Verdict: There seem few obstacles to making this match...

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Zsolt Erdei

Pros

Victory would give Calzaghe the WBO light-heavyweight crown, making him a two-weight champion

Under WBO rules, the Welshman could move directly up from super-middle and challenge for the title

Other than a surprise win over Julio Gonzalez to take the title, there are few names on the Hungarian's 19-0 record

Cons

Erdei is undefeated and an unknown proposition. It could be a dangerous fight at light-heavy

A much more difficult fight to sell than Julio Gonzalez

It is difficult to get Erdei to fight outside his adopted Germany, where points decisions almost invariably go to the home boxer

Verdict: All depends on how hard the WBO push Erdei to take Calzaghe's challenge on the Welshman's terms

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Antonio Tarver

Pros

Another possibility at light-heavy, Tarver's profile has been raised significantly by his controversial loss to Roy Jones Jr

If a rematch with Jones is not arranged shortly, Tarver could be awarded the WBC belt

Widely regarded as the number-one light-heavyweight in the world

Although many feel Tarver defeated Jones Jr, there was little in his performance that would leave Calzaghe quaking in his boots

Cons

Tarver's confidence in his ability will be boosted by the performance against Jones Jr

A huge ask for Calzaghe's first bout at light-heavy, the Welshman would probably first prefer to get an easier bout under his belt at the new weight

Tarver is currently without a title

Verdict: A fight that will raise huge interest if Calzaghe moves up, unclear whether he would risk it first-time out at light-heavy

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Bernard Hopkins

Pros

A world-respected name, Hopkins is regarded as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. This would be a true 'superfight'

Hopkins is having trouble finding suitable opponents to interest the tv networks and justify the huge purses he demands

Having blown possible fights with Roy Jones Jr and James Toney, Hopkins is searching round for alternatives

Calzaghe's impressive performance against Byron Mitchell has raised the Welshman's profile in the States - and upped the cash that could be brought to the table for a Hopkins bout

The champion is ageing and slowing. This could be the time for Calzaghe to catch him and add a huge scalp to his record

Cons

A difficult man to pin to a contract. Frank Warren tried to make the match in 2002, but Hopkins priced himself out of the market

Though past his best, 'The Executioner' is a formidable foe. Raised himself for his major fights against William Joppy and the awesome Felix Trinidad

Hopkins is throwing names of other potential opponents round like confetti

Calzaghe will have to travel to the States to get his man

Verdict: Hopkins is more likely to fight a big-name light-middle moving up the divisions

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Jeff Lacy

Pros

Building a reputation in the States where calls are growing for him to get a shot at one of the European champions

Lacy is a big favourite of US TV network Showtime's boss Jay Larkin

Brings an undefeated record and an exciting style

Cons

Lacy has not been in with anyone of Calzaghe's class and does not look ready for the Welshman

Verdict: Likely if Calzaghe stays at super-middle

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Roy Jones Jr

Pros

Perhaps the biggest name in the boxing world and one of the biggest draws

Jones Jr's move back down to light-heavy against Antonio Tarver brings him back within Calzaghe's radar

It has been some years since Jones Jr took a really challenging fight that pushed the champ

Cons

Jones Jr stunned the world with his move up to heavyweight and the big-money draws lie in that division. He has targeted one last big fight against Mike Tyson before retiring

Despite a poor show against Tarver, Jones Jr is one of the best fighters the world has seen - few would fancy Calzaghe's chances

Verdict: Not as far-fetched as it seemed after Jones Jr's move to heavyweight

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Sven Ottke

Pros

A unification bout that could add the IBF and WBA belts to Calzaghe's WBO crown

Ottke is a respected champion and taking his scalp would boost Calzaghe's reputation

The German is a light puncher, unlikely to have the armoury to trouble Calzaghe

Ottke is talking about retirement and could be looking for a last big pay day

Cons

A difficult fight to sell outside Britain and Germany

Calzaghe will have to travel to the Germans' back-yard to face him

Ottke is a cagey fighter. If Calzaghe has a recurrence of his hand problems he may find it difficult to win a points decision, especially in Germany

Would the German risk his unbeaten record so late in his career?

Verdict: The German looks to have backed away from a fight

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Anthony Mundine

Pros

An easy unification route against the new WBA champion

Cons

Persuading Mundine to risk his title against Calzaghe would be difficult and a match-up in Australia would probably be demanded

Verdict: Possible

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Antwun Echols

Pros

A highly regarded super-middleweight with a decent record

Echols needs a route back to the big time after his loss to Anthony Mundine

If Calzaghe is serious about his wish to fight in the States, Echols would be a good entry to the US market

Cons

Echols is notorious for his rough-house tactics

Much of the interest went when Echols lost to Mundine

Verdict: Possible

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Eric Lucas

Pros

Calzaghe would be confident of a comfortable win against the Canadian

Would add another ex-world champion scalp to Calzaghe's record and negotiations could be eased with Lucas looking for a way back to the top table

Cons

Most of the interest in this fight died when Lucas lost his WBC crown to Markus Beyer

Verdict: Possible

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Howard Eastman

Pros

A big domestic clash from a serious challenger

Eastman's assets are speed, accuracy and strength. Calzaghe could match him on the first two, and with the Battersea boxer having to move up to super-middle the champ would expect to have the edge in muscle

Eastman is running out of credible opponents at middleweight and is unlikely to get a William Joppy rematch or a date with Bernard Hopkins

Cons

Little interest outside the UK in this clash

Eastman fights on the BBC, Calzaghe on Sky

Verdict: Possible

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Markus Beyer

Pros

A unification bout that could add the WBC belt to Calzaghe's WBO crown

Beyer is not in the Welshman's class

Cons

A difficult fight to sell outside Britain and Germany

Verdict: Possible

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Brian Magee

Pros

Another decent domestic fight that could prove popular with the UK market

Cons

No interest in the fight outside Britain. Even in the UK it would not be considered a major challenge for the Welshman

Verdict: Magee is a long way from Calzaghe at the moment

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Johnny Nelson

Pros

An all-British fight that would be a big seller in the country

Beating Nelson at cruiserweight would give Calzaghe a shot at being a champion at three different weights

Calzaghe sees little to fear in Nelson

Cons

No US interest in this match

Stepping up two weights in one leap is unlikely - Calzaghe would need warm-up fights

Will Nelson still be champion by the time Calzaghe is ready for him?

Verdict: Unlikely