Joe Calzaghe vs. Bernard Hopkins II?

It could happen yet, according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, Hopkins’ promoter.

Schaefer said he broached the idea with the “retired” Calzaghe when he was in England to promote the Ricky Hatton-Manny Pacquiao fight and Calzaghe was open to the idea.

The fight would take place in Wales, although they didn’t discuss a date.

“His words were, ‘I’m intrigued,'” Schaefer said.

However, Calzaghe, who outpointed Hopkins last April, wrote an article for a British website saying he doesn’t plan to come out of retirement.

“Right now I am totally happy in my decision to retire and couldn’t consider fighting Bernard because I simply don’t have the motivation,” he wrote on campaignseries.co.uk.com.

The prospect of a Calzaghe-Hopkins fight seems odd given that Calzaghe only recently announced his retirement and is openly disdainful of Hopkins.

However, Schaefer said it makes sense. One, Calzaghe, who turns 37 in a few weeks, must fight soon if he fights again at all. And, two, the ill will between them could help in the marketing of the fight.

“They’re both older guys,” Schaefer said. “They both turned in performances of a lifetime in their last fights, Bernard against (Kelly) Pavlik and Calzaghe against Roy Jones. ÔǪ And if Joe wants to fight again, he doesn’t have the luxury of waiting a few years to come back.

“A fight in Wales would be a huge event.”

Hopkins has also said he would like to fight THE RING cruiserweight champion Tomasz Adamek, which Schaefer says is also a possibility.

“Bernard just wants to fight the best of the best,” Schaefer said. “That’s what he’s done since he left the middleweight division; it’s remarkable. Bernard wants another title. And Adamek is the best cruiserweight out there.”

Hopkins has never fought above light heavyweight (175 pounds). The cruiserweight limit is 200, which makes for a considerable jump.

“To be honest, the weight does worry me,” Schaefer said. “I was also worried when he fought Pavlk. And I was worried when he fought (Antonio) Tarver. He just says, ‘Don’t worry. I got it covered.'”

Michael Rosenthal can be reached at [email protected]