CALZAGHE'S camp have insisted their man cannot afford the slightest mistake on Saturday, especially if his big date with Bernard Hopkins can be fixed for the new year.

Calzaghe will have American Tocker Pudwill trying to take his WBO super-middleweight crown in Newcastle on Saturday.

And, despite few over this side knowing much about the man from the States, Calzaghe is not taking him lightly.

That is because the Welshman's promotor Frank Warren and Hopkins' boss Don King have met in London to talk over the prospect of the two fighters getting together at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff next year.

Joe's father, Enzo, said: "Challengers are there to take titles and, if they were all mugs, then there would not be any champions.

"It seems people are giving Pudwill the same chance that Joe was given against (Chris) Eubank."

In that fight, Calzaghe was the underdog but took the title against a man who had dominated during his heyday.

Now, the Newbridge man is in that position and getting through the fights before a shot at Jones Jnr - when it eventually comes - is the minefield he has to tread.

Enzo added: "At this level now, one mistake and you go to the back of the board. He (Calzaghe) will be 100 per cent focussed for this.

"The bottom line is that nobody gave (Leon) Spinks and chance against Ali and people like Pudwill are put there to take a challenge.

"Whether he can win is irrelevant because nobody, not Pudwill, Thomas Tate (Calzaghe's intended opponent this weekend), Jones or Bernard Hopkins will take this title.

"At the end of the day, though, they are all good. I respect every opponent that is put into the ring and this guy has 34 wins and four losses.

"On Saturday night, the opponent will be changed but, to Joe, it will still be Tate in the opposite corner. And who is Tate anyway? Whichever boxer goes over the apron into the ring, his (Calzaghe's) motivation is the same."

However, as much as Calzaghe has trained as normal in preparation for Saturday's contest at the Newcastle Arena, Pudwill would need to put in a superhuman performance to take the title from the reigning champion.

The American has had only one fight in the last 16 months and that was a six-round points win over journeyman Donnie Penetton, who has won just 15 contests in 154 professional fights.

Yet, as Spinks proved against Ali and James (Buster) Douglas did against Mike Tyson, there are always potential banana skins around the corner.

And, with Hopkins possibly on the horizon, Calzaghe can ill afford to slip up.