IBF super middleweight titleholder Carl Froch insists he would be willing to face Bernard Hopkins – but has told the American legend to forget about a light heavyweight showdown.

While Froch’s promoter Eddie Hearn has dismissed a super fight against IBF light heavyweight beltholder Hopkins as a virtual non-starter, the Englishman, who meets Danish rival Mikkel Kessler on May 25 at London’s 18,000-capacity O2 Arena, is refusing to rule out the idea completely.

During a cross Atlantic media conference call Wednesday evening, Nottingham star Froch (30-2, 22 knockouts) revealed it would be definitely something for him to consider farther down the road – should he manage to win his rematch with Kessler (46-2, 35 KOs) aweek Saturday and make amends for one of only two blots on his impressive career record.

However, the 35-year-old RING No. 1-rated super middleweight was at pains to stress to Hopkins, who has been talking about defending his 175-pound belt against him, there is no way the pair will ever share the same ring – unless it is at 168 pounds or, more likely, at catchweight.

“Yes, I have heard that. I look up to Bernard Hopkins and think he is a great ambassador for the sport,” said Froch when asked for his thoughts on the call out from 48-year-old B Hop.  “I think he’s been around too long – but he’s still doing it, so you can’t knock him for that.

“And one day in the future, it would be an honor to fight somebody like that. I feel I would know how to beat him. But one step at a time.

“But I’ll tell you now, I am not a light heavyweight. So it’s going to have to be at a catchweight because I don’t expect him to come down to super middle. But at the same time don’t expect me to go to light heavyweight.”

You can follow UK sportswriter Harry Pratt on Twitter: @gharrypratt