I want to fight Roy Jones Jnr a week early, says Joe Calzaghe

Nov 2 2008 Billy Sloan

JOE CALZAGHE is so fired up for his super fight with ring legend Roy Jones Jr that he brags: "Bring him on one week early".

Welsh warrior Joe - unbeaten in 45 fights over 15 years - faces the former four-weight US world champion at Madison Square Garden on Saturday.

And he said: "I'll fight Jones tonight ... I don't want to wait until next weekend."

"I'm in the best shape of my life. I didn't cut corners in 14 weeks of training. I'm not scared of Jones but I bet he's scared of me.

He knows he's going to get beaten."

During the frenzied build-up to what many fans are calling his "career-defining fight" the 36-year-old has also found time to release a new DVD, Joe Calzaghe - My Life Story.

But father and trainer Enzo insists Joe has nothing left to prove after unifying theWBO and IBF super middleweight belts by beating Jeff Lacy in 2006 - and following it up with a points win against Bernard Hopkins at light heavyweight last April.

"This is NOT a career-defining fight for Joe," said Enzo forcibly.

"He has already achieved his legacy in the ring. When people tell me this is his defining fight that will make him a legend I say 'What the f*** is all that about? Joe was a legend a long time ago'.

"My son is undefeated in 23 world title fights - what more do they want?"

Joe made his US ring debut in Las Vegas in 2007 against Hopkins. But even though Joe outboxed him the American fight fraternity still didn't give him the plaudits he deserved.

Enzo snapped: "American boxing writers and fight fans have never given Joe the credit he deserves - even after beating their best.

"He has defeated Lacy and Hopkins but I could name another top eight US contenders, including Charles Brewer and Byron Mitchell, he has also beaten.

"I was sick and tired of Yanks who'd send me every bit of garbage they had.

"I always said 'Send them to us and we'll whip their ass'. But even when we did it was never enough for them to admit this guy can fight. They never ever accepted Joe."

It's said when Joe faces Jones Jr next Saturday it will be his final fight. If true, a win would end his career on an all-time high because the US legend claims to be the first fighter since Bob Fitzsimmons in 1897 towin titles at both middle and heavyweight.

Enzo said: "We're not frightened of Jones.

We'll see who has the heart and mental attitude to really go to war. Joe can't wait to top the bill at Madison Square Garden. He made this fight and resurrected Jones' career."

Last month Hopkins scored a stunning win over middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik then demanded a Calzaghe rematch. But Enzo laughed off reports his son could extend his career.

He's still bitter at Hopkins' racist pre-fight taunt last time when the American said: "I'd never lose to a white boy. I couldn't go back to the projects if I let a white boy beat me."

Enzo spat: "If this is Joe's last fight then Hopkins' dream has gone. He's gonna die haunted by the realisation he was beaten by a white boy."

JOE CALZAGHE - My Life Story is out now on Universal.