JOE Calzaghe is on the verge of securing his superfight with Roy Jones Junior, with the bout likely to take place at New York's Madison Square Garden on 20 September.
Las Vegas had been tipped to host the light-heavyweight clash between veteran American legend Jones and undefeated Welsh two-weight champion Calzaghe.
But John Wirt, the chief executive of Jones' promotional company, Square Ring, has claimed that
the fight is now likely to go ahead at the famous New York venue.
He also suggested that the deal had more been finalised with Calzaghe, who is promoting himself having recently split with his long-time promoter Frank Warren. Jones, 39, is set to co-promote the showdown with his 36-year-old rival, with both fighters insisting they intend to retire after one last hurrah.
The Welshman, who beat Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas in a light-heavyweight bout in April, has given up his WBC super-middleweight belt rather than take a mandatory defence against Nottingham's Carl Froch, freeing him to fight Jones.
Bookmakers Ladbrokes make Calzaghe 2/9 to beat Jones and the firm's spokesman Nick Weinberg, said: "His bout with Hopkins will stand him in good stead, whilst his opponent has seen better days"
Meanwhile, Ricky Hatton looks set to switch the venue of his next fight from New York to Las Vegas – in order to save his army of fans some money.
The 'Hitman' will take on IBF light-welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi, a New Yorker, in November and had his heart set on a bout at Madison Square Garden.
But the 29-year-old has discovered this would prove significantly more expensive for his travelling supporters, so is prepared to return to the scene of his only defeat, December's 10th-round knockout by Floyd Mayweather.
The full article contains 308 words and appears in The Scotsman newspaper.
