"I want Haye" says Bernard Hopkins

Bernard Hopkins is hoping a fight can be made between him and WBA heavyweight David Haye. The Executioner faces faded foe Roy Jones in a rematch on April 3rd in Las Vegas - the same night Haye faces John Ruiz in Manchester and 'B-Hop' has his sights firmly set on facing Haye later this year.

Hopkins revealed this clash of dates was deliberate as Jones was the man who moved up to heavyweight to defeat Ruiz in 2003 and Bernard wants to emulate his achievement against Londoner Haye rather than agreeing for a catchweight clash.

Speaking on BBC London’s boxing hour last night, the former undisputed middleweight champion said, “If I can get the opportunity to fight Haye by late summer I’ll be there but first I’ll destroy Jones.”

Hopkins, now 45, pointed out that it is the older men like himself Shane Mosley and Manny Pacquiao who are leading the way ahead of younger fighters.

If Haye and Hopkins gain their expected victories this fight could well be a possibility, considering the past difficulties of negotiations with the Klitschkos for world title matches and Haye’s close links with Golden Boy Promotions, of which Hopkins is a partner.