Woods focused on Tarver

IBF champion puts Calzaghe fight to the back of his mind

Clinton Woods insists he is focusing solely on beating Antonio Tarver rather than the possibility of a super-fight with Joe Calzaghe. Sheffield-born Woods has made no secret of his desire that face Calzaghe in the ring after a long-running war of words between the two.

And should Woods successfully defend his IBF light-heavyweight title in Tampa on Saturday and Calzaghe beat Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas the following week, then the pair will move a step closer to finally meeting.

However the 35-year-old Woods knows he can't afford to look beyond his fight against Tarver. He said: "It is no secret that if I beat Tarver and Joe beats Hopkins, it is the fight everybody wants - and it is definitely the fight that I want. "It really would be a super-fight and it is the natural fight to make. I am convinced I am going to beat Tarver and I think Joe will be too fresh for Hopkins, so it should happen.

Motivated
"But it is not a thought that drives me on. I have got to concentrate on beating Tarver first before I even think about Calzaghe. "I am motivated by my family, not by the possibility of fights down the road."

Woods has been warned that he can't afford to let his bout with Tarver go to the judges' scorecards, especially as he is fighting in his rivals hometown. However Woods claims he has no fears about the fight or potential result.

Woods added: "I will make sure there is no way you could give the fight to Antonio, so I'm not worried. "I always find a way to win. But Tarver is a great fighter, so I am looking forward to a great fight."

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SkySport