GWENT'S WBO world super-middleweight boxing champion, Joe Calzaghe, is being lined-up for a fight against a world-ranked American in Cardiff on July 21.

The date has been confirmed, with actual opponent and venue (not the Millennium Stadium) to be decided.

But if it's a ranked American, that effectively narrows it down to number three or four WBO challengers Thomas Tate and Byron Mitchell.

No. 8 ranked Omar Sheika has already been beaten by Calzaghe and a return would be a backward step.

Warren is hoping another convincing display by Calzaghe against a top American will bring him closer to fighting and earning a fortune in the USA.

A future fight against world light-heavyweight champion Roy Jones Junior has still not been ruled out, but such a contest seems as far away as ever.

Jones defends his title against Mexican Julio Gonzalez in Los Angeles on July 28. Then he hopes to meet WBA middleweight champion Felix Trinidad in January, when he will be 33.

A spokesman for promoter Frank Warren confirmed today: "Joe's next fight will be on July 21 and it will be against a top-ten ranked opponent.

"Joe's last title defence (when he stopped mandatory German challenger Mario Veit inside a round) has gone down a storm and created a lot of interest, especially in America.

"We want to build on that by bringing Joe back to Cardiff quickly. "A number of top venues want him, I'm not going to mention any names, but the Millennium Stadium would be too big. "We are still trying to get the Jones fight together, the sooner the better."