Boxing: Calzaghe steps up pursuit of Eastman bout

The much-touted "dream" world title fight between two of Britain's biggest names, Joe Calzaghe and Howard Eastman, looks close to becoming a reality three months after the insults started flowing between their rival promoters.

Last Friday, Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren, who is also Sky Sports' principal promoter, sent Eastman's promoter, Mick Hennessy, who is also the BBC's main promoter, an offer for Eastman to fight Calzaghe for a "six-figure sum" next month. Hennessy had still to see the offer last night.

"I can alter the date if Eastman needs more time," said Warren. "The fight would go on Sky because Joe is the champion and I don't care about the BBC. The BBC can't afford Joe. I know what they pay and they would have to come up with a seven-figure offer to get Joe on the BBC and I know they don't have that sort of money." Warren also confirmed that he would want options.

Today, Hennessy will reply to Warren with his own offer and he is keen for the negotiations to be made public to ensure the rhetoric matches the reality. "This is great news for Eastman," Hennessy said. "I will get the deal together and make this fight happen, but I want it all out in the open so that if it falls apart everybody will know who is responsible."

Calzaghe, 30, is the unbeaten World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight champion from Newbridge. He won the title six years ago when he beat Chris Eubank, but has yet to make the impact many believed he would.

Eastman, 32, is the British, European and Commonwealth middleweight champion and has been beaten just once in 38 fights. That was in Las Vegas in 2001 when he lost a split decision for the World Boxing Association middleweight title to William Joppy.