• Light-heavyweight

Cleverly-Hopkins bout won't happen - Calzaghe

Nathan Cleverly has been warned off fighting Bernard Hopkins © PA Photos

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Former world champion Joe Calzaghe believes Nathan Cleverly should forget about taking on American Bernard Hopkins.

Calzaghe says 46-year-old Hopkins is only eyeing a high-profile bout in order to secure a final career payday. After retiring undefeated in 2009, Calzaghe revealed he has refused Hopkins' request for a fight, and says Cleverly, the WBO light-heavyweight champion, lacks the experience and profile to attract enough prize money.

"I don't think he has any intention of fighting Nathan," Calzaghe told the BBC. "Bernard Hopkins is a 46-year-old man looking for a big, big payday against a big-name fighter.

"Hopkins will only fight if he gets a big payday and a big name. Nathan is in the early part of his career and I'm not sure you can build that fight up. He is not known in America.

"Nathan is still very young, in the early stages of his reign and he will keep improving as he gets more experience of world title fights. And Nathan, who is an up-and-coming fighter, is too dangerous for Hopkins."

Calzaghe beat Hopkins in a controversial split-points decision in April 2008, and took Cleverly under his wing as a sparring partner in preparation for the bout. In recent weeks, a showdown between Hopkins and Cleverly appeared to be gaining momentum, but Calzaghe maintains that neither he nor Cleverly will be entering the ring against the 'Executioner'.

"I think [Hopkins is] just having a bit of fun," said Calzaghe. "I spoke to him not long ago and said I'm not coming out of retirement.

"It was quite funny as he was asking me to come back and fight and I suggested a 60-40 split and that soon shut him right up. It was all in good humour. But I'm three years out of the ring and I'm done with boxing."

Meanwhile, Cleverly will defend his title at at Cardiff's Motorpoint Arena against American Tommy Karpency next month.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.