Joe Calzaghe had the world at his feet at the weekend and he did not even have to lace up a pair of gloves to prove it. Floyd Mayweather Jr's decision to retire meant Calzaghe was elevated, in the opinions of many, to being the world's best pound-for-pound boxer. No Briton in more than 50 years had laid a serious claim to that crown.

But no sooner had Kelly Pavlik stopped Gary Lockett, Calzaghe's stablemate, in three rounds, than Calzaghe's was the name on everyone's lips, including Frank Warren and Bob Arum, the promoters.

A bout between Pavlik, 26, the exciting WBC and WBO middleweight champion, and Calzaghe, 36, the WBC, WBA and WBO super-middleweight champion, whose win over Bernard Hopkins in April, gave him a claim to being the No1 light-heavyweight, would probably be the biggest match that could be made in the sport. “It would dwarf anything that has taken place or is scheduled this year,” Arum said.

Mayweather had been expected to face Oscar De La Hoya on September 20 in a rematch of the richest bout in history. He has retired twice before, only to do a quick about-turn, but he says this decision is permanent. “There comes a time when money doesn't matter. I just can't do it any more,” Mayweather said.

It means Ricky Hatton will not get his wish of a rematch with the American, which may be a blessing. But it could also be a good thing for Calzaghe, whose status has been elevated in the United States. His absence from ringside for the bout involving Lockett, who is trained by Enzo, Calzaghe's father, showed a keenness to keep his options open and perhaps a lack of confidence in his stablemate. “For the first time in his career, Joe is sitting back and weighing up his options,” Calzaghe Sr said. “He deserves that.”

While Calzaghe expressed a preference to face Roy Jones Jr, a bout with Pavlik would probably pay more, although at a higher risk.

There were lengthy discussions between the boxers' promoters in a car on Thursday and they probably continued yesterday when they flew by private jet to Canastota, in upstate New York, where Warren was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame, alongside Larry Holmes, the former world heavyweight champion. But the two have not been able to agree dates - Warren suggested November 15, Arum wants October 18. “It would be a big, big fight, but Joe has the final say,” Warren said.

The upside for Pavlik is that his middleweight title would not be at risk. “It would make him the first man to hold three titles at the same time since Henry Armstrong,” Arum said. “He's the best middleweight I've ever seen. I never saw Sugar Ray Robinson, but I promoted Marvin Hagler and Carlos Monzon and I would place him above those.”

Pavlik said he would be happy to face anyone put in front of him. “If they want me to fight Godzilla, I'll fight Godzilla,” he said. Lockett was no Godzilla and had the monster knocked out of him in 7min 40sec.

The Welshman was brave and positive, but the American was too heavy-handed. The champion's punches, when they landed, sent a shudder right down Lockett's body.

The writing was on the wall early. Lockett landed a hard right cross in the first round that had no effect on the champion; when Pavlik fired back, Lockett was staggered. In the second round, a looping right caught Lockett near his left ear. A follow-up right forced Lockett to take a knee, which he did again near the end of the round. Halfway through the third, with Lockett on the floor, Calzaghe Sr threw in the towel. “Every time he threw punches, it felt like he was making me pay for it,” Lockett said.

Before he had left the ring, Lockett was being derided. “No more Gary Locketts” was the consensus of those wanting tougher opposition for Pavlik.

It was left to Pavlik to defend his fallen foe. “I tip my hat to the kid,” the champion said. “He kept getting back up. The thing he did wrong was thinking we were underestimating him. He was the No1, the mandatory. He wasn't someone we just picked out.”

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