While Ricky Hatton's career at the top level could be coming to an end after his loss to Manny Pacquiao, Carl Froch could be ready to take his place. Britain's only world champion made a big impact with his last-gasp victory over Jermain Taylor ten days ago and now one of the biggest names in the sport, Bernard Hopkins, wants to face him.

Hopkins is 44, but still rated as one of the best boxers in the world. After losing to Joe Calzaghe last April, he thoroughly outboxed Kelly Pavlik, the WBC and WBO middleweight champion, who was regarded as America's big new star, in October.

Having had his hopes of a rematch with Calzaghe dashed when the Welshman retired unbeaten, Hopkins has turned his attentions to Froch. The American believes that a late-summer bout is possible at Madison Square Garden, New York, but he wants something agreed within the next month or he could retire.

Froch stopped Taylor, who ended Hopkins's ten-year reign as world middleweight champion in 2005, in the first defence of his WBC super-middleweight title in Mashantucket, Connecticut. Having failed to get a UK broadcaster to show the bout live, his next contests will most likely be in the United States. “Froch is a tough fighter, can take a punch and he has balls,” Hopkins said. “It would be a hell of a fight and he got recognition for the way he knocked Taylor out. He deserves it.

“What better commercial can you get than by fighting me? He introduced himself by beating Taylor and he can seal the deal by becoming a superstar if he fights me.”

Another big name on Froch's trail is Andre Ward, who will become the WBC's No1 contender if he beats Edison Miranda, of Colombia, on May 16. The unbeaten Californian is the only US Olympic champion of the decade. “I would definitely love to fight him,” Ward said. “He's got the green belt, that's the one I want.”