NEWBRIDGE'S WBO world super-middleweight king Joe Calzaghe has moved a step closer towards a dream showdown with American great Bernard Hopkins.

Undisputed world middleweight champion Brewer has spoken of his desire to fight unbeaten Calzaghe and also WBO middleweight champion Harry Simon in an interview with boxing website Maxboxing.com.

Hopkins stated: "Right now I'm negotiating along with Don King and Jay Larkin of Showtime. Who we spoke to and we're going to talk to him about two fights, maybe my mandatory too, which makes it a three-fight deal.

"It would be the mandatory, Harry Simon and Joe Calzaghe. While Calzaghe fights for that other super-middleweight title, I'll wait for that and knock off Simon after the mandatory and fight the WBO title."

Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren is looking to stage the mega-showdown at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff in front of 40,000 fans and has had numerous talks with Hopkins promoter Don King to make the fight happen.

He said: "I'm delighted that Hopkins has stated that he wants to fight Joe. This is the fight that I have been working on with Don King to secure for Joe. It's a real fight and the winner can claim that he is the real pound-for-pound best in the world. Hopkins statements are a real positive sign and I hope that the fight can be confirmed shortly providing terms and conditions can be agreed with King," said Warren.

TV giants Showtime have broadcast all of Calzaghe's fights in the US and is relishing the prospect of a Calzaghe/Hopkins showdown.

The cameras were rolling at the 30-year-old Welshman's 10th world title defence against Charles Brewer at the Cardiff International Arena last month and received rave reviews at home following his victory over the tough American.

Undefeated Namibian Simon - also promoted by Warren under the Sports Network organisation - is also gunning for a unification fight with Hopkins after he claimed the WBO crown in Copenhagen last month with a victory over Armand Krajnc.

Warren continued: "Hopkins cannot say he is the best middleweight in the world until he takes on Harry, the last remaining champion in the division, who I believe to be a tremendous fighter. Harry stands in the way of way of Hopkins and his title claim.

"Maybe Roy Jones will one day come out and decide to face real fighters like Calzaghe, Simon and Hopkins in meaningful fights. Until then, he cannot state that he is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world by fighting the likes of Clinton Woods," Warren finished.