BBC SPORT | Boxing | Calzaghe relinquishes world title

Joe Calzaghe has vacated his WBC super-middleweight title to free him up for a potential fight with Roy Jones Jr at light-heavyweight later in the year.

He has given up the title rather than take the mandatory defence against fellow British fighter Carl Froch.

Calzaghe still holds the WBO belt while Froch could face Jermain Taylor for a world title crack later this year.

Veteran American Jones claims he and Welsh two-weight world champion Calzaghe will clash on 20 September.

Calzaghe is unbeaten in 45 contests and a fight with Jones, possibly in Las Vegas, would likely be the Welshman's career swansong.

The Newbridge-based Calzaghe is currently big box office in the United States following his points win - and debut at light-heavyweight - over Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas in April.

At the end of June, Calzaghe split with long-term promoter Frank Warren saying he would now manage himself.

Announcing the split with Warren in his newspaper column, Calzaghe said: "My intention is to fight Roy Jones Jr, a four-weight world champion fighter.

"That would be a special event for me against a legend of the sport."