Calzaghe longs to be a two-weight champion

Woods takes on Rico Hoye in Rotherham on Friday night, with Welsh WBO champion Calzaghe an eager watcher.

"I hope Clinton wins, because then I'll step up to light heavyweight and destroy him," Calzaghe said.

"He's called me out and my ambition is to be a two-weight world champion, so let's get it on."

Calzaghe, 32, must first make the 16th defence of his WBO super middleweight title against Belfast's Brian Magee on 18 March at the Kings Hall.

But then the Welshman could at last make the step up the weight divisions he has been chasing for more than a year.

Woods has made it clear that he wants a showdown with the hard-hitting Calzaghe and a victory against Hoye will almost certainly set up the all-British encounter later this year.

Hoye can punch but he doesn't have the big title-fight experience Joe Calzaghe Woods upbeat for IBF tilt

However, American Hoye has also said he is interested in a possible match-up should he beat Woods, so Calzaghe could be in a win-win situation.

"I'm hoping that Clinton wins the title, but he has got a hard fight against Hoye who is a big puncher," said Calzaghe.

"Clinton is a good fighter and he proved his heart and stamina against Roy Jones and Glen Johnson and I think that this might just be his crowning moment.

"Hoye can punch but he doesn't have the big title-fight experience that Clinton has, which will make all the difference."

Should a fight at a higher weight division fall through, then Calzaghe wants a unification bout with Denmark's WBA champion Mikkel Kessler this summer, assuming he beats Magee.

Sheffield's Woods, 32, lost a world-title challenge to Roy Jones Jr in 2002, drew with Glen Johnson in 2003 and lost a rematch in 2004.

Hoye has less experience but has built up a professional record of 18 wins, 14 by knock-out, and no defeats.