You are in > manchester.com  > News > Taylor raises stakes for Calzaghe bout

Boxing

Taylor raises stakes for Calzaghe bout

17/04/2007

American middleweight champion Jermain Taylor has demanded $10 million if he is to step up a weight and into the ring with Joe Calzaghe.

Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren has been attempting to lure the WBC and WBO champion as the opponent for a fight that would catapult Calazaghe into the American spotlight.

But with an improved purse offer of $4 million recently waved away by the Arkansas fighter, it seems that Taylor's demands may force the Welshman's camp to look elsewhere for his September contest.

"If Joe and Frank want me that much, make me an offer for $10m and I will show up and bring him a gift to his front door," Taylor told the BBC.

However Taylor claims he would not be put off by the prospect of making the trip across the Atlantic should the right offer be made to him.

"No atmosphere is intimidating because once you start fighting your focus is on the man in front of you," he said.

A broken hand sustained in his third-round demolition of Peter Manfredo last week may mean that Calzaghe's plan of notching his 21st and 22nd defences of his WBO crown inside the year may have to be scaled down.

Danish rival Mikkel Kessler, American legend Bernard Hopkins and relative unknown Dennis Inkin have all been mentioned as possible opponents for a July bout should Calzaghe's injury heal in time.

© Adfero Ltd