Hopkins comes out of retirement to seek heavyweight crown

WASHINGTON, Nov 28 (Reuters) Just six months after retiring from the ring, Bernard Hopkins has decided he is not ready to hang up his gloves after all.

Instead, the long-time middleweight champion wants to win the heavyweight title, and has targeted World Boxing Council champion Oleg Maskaev of Kazakhstan.

''I want to win the heavyweight championship of the world,'' Hopkins said today.

''I want to bring the heavyweight championship back to the United States. I'm going to be the guy that everybody says preserved the reputation of the American fighter.'' Hopkins retired after beating Antonio Tarver in a light heavyweight bout in June. The 41-year-old had promised his late mother he would not box past 40 but changed his mind, he said, partly based on the ease with which he beat Tarver.

Hopkins, who fought almost his entire professional life at 160 pounds, said he presently weighs about 180, with his sights set on reaching 200 lbs in a little over a month.

''I plan on being a heavyweight by the end of the year,'' he said.

Sam Garner, who works for Maskaev's promoter Dennis Rappaport Productions, was dismissive of a Hopkins challenge, claiming he would fear for the former middleweight's health.

''He's not ready for that,'' said Garner. ''He's not able to take the punches that a heavyweight can put down.'' Hopkins said he was aware of the risks involved fighting at heavyweight but it was those risks that motivated him to try.

''Obviously, the danger is always there. I've got to be perfect. I know that I got a hand on my head in the lion's mouth, and I know that any move of fear or intimidation or mistake, and I'm dead.

CALZAGHE NEXT? Hopkins successfully defended his middleweight title a record 20 times between 1995 and 2005, before losing a pair of controversial decisions to current champion Jermain Taylor.

If a fight with Maskaev does not materialise, Hopkins said he would turn his sights on Joe Calzaghe, the super middleweight champion, to prevent the Briton exceeding his string of title defences.

Calzaghe held a news conference in New York today to announce a March 3 defence of his belt against Peter Manfredo, Jr. If victorious, he would equal Hopkins' tally of 20 successful defences.

''If I can't make my history, then I can stop him making his history,'' said Hopkins.

Calzaghe had previously stated an interest in the fight, but responded differently when informed of Hopkins' challenge.

''If Bernard Hopkins doesn't want me to break his title defence record, then he should have fought me when he had the chance years ago,'' he said.

''There are a lot of great and exciting fights out there for me, but the only one that means anything to me right now is Peter Manfredo Jr because there are no other fights without beating him. But I will say this, I intend to break Bernard's record, with or without him.'' Hopkins insisted a fight with him would enable either Calzaghe or Maskaev to make a mark on the sport.

''Anyone can beat a champion,'' he said. ''Very few can beat a legend.'' REUTERS SBA BST0202