THE 'sky's the limit' for Newbridge hero Joe Calzaghe when two-time world champion William Joppy is expected to be named as the next raider to his WBO super-middleweight crown.

Calzaghe's father and trainer Enzo believes that the champ has finally landed the prestigious fight that will capture the lucrative American market - and potentially set up a superfight with the likes of middleweight king Bernard Hopkins or double belt holder Sven Ottke.

What's more there is real hope that the 13th defence to Calzaghe's title may go ahead at Cardiff Castle on May 3.

The 30-year-old Welshman was originally due to fight Thomas Tate, possibly in Newcastle, but the American opted to retire.

Calzaghe Snr, though, sees the installing of 32-year-old WBA champion Joppy as a mouth-watering prospect.

"The sky is the limit for Joe after this," he said last night.

"This guy will provide us with a real exciting fight. He's a two-time champion so we'll take that.

"It's the kind of fight that has the potential to be one of Joe's best nights so far.

"Better than Chris Eubank (when Calzaghe won his title in 1997) and better than Charles Brewer (last April's 10th defence)."

As for Tate, Calzaghe Snr added: "It's a shame that he's decided to stay in his armchair. We think he's retired and there will probably be a bit of an investigation into that now."

Washington-born Joppy is the only man to stop British middleweight Howard Eastman.

The American beat the 'Battersea Bomber' when the two met on the Hasim Rahman/Lennox Lewis re-match undercard in November 2001.

Joppy took the vacant WBA middleweight championship on points 115-112, 114-112, 113-113, despite being dropped in the last round by two big Eastman rights.

It was classed as an interim WBA title win as Hopkins - a long-time target for Calzaghe - had been elevated to 'super champion' status following his three-title win over Felix Trinidad the previous month.

It was the second time former Golden Gloves bronze medal winner Joppy had clinched the WBA crown after originally beating Japan's Shinji Takehara to take the belt in June 1996.

He lost the title to Julio Cesar Green just over a year later.

Meanwhile, home boxing fans could be given a double treat on the night with Wales' Commonwealth Games gold medallist Jamie Arthur likely to be installed on the undercard.

The 22-year-old Cwmbran lightweight makes his professional debut at Glasgow's Braehead Arena against Sheffield journeyman Daniel Thorpe on Saturday night.

But May 3 could be the first time that Welsh fans will see Arthur fight as a professional on home soil since becoming the first Welshman since Howard Winstone to win Games gold 44 years ago following his memorable victory over Zambia's Dennis Zimba in Manchester last summer.