JOE Calzaghe's exclusive column in the South Wales Argus made headlines around the world over the weekend.

Calzaghe, the undisputed and undefeated super middleweight champion of the world, told his readers that he will fight American Executioner' Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas on April 12 in his weekly column on Friday.

By Saturday evening Calzaghe's promoter Frank Warren had promised an announcement this week after a whole host of news outlets responded to Calzaghe's bombshell.

Warren revealed negotiations had been completed and an official announcement was due within days. "The deal is done and will be officially confirmed with the venue and date next week," he said.

The BBC, Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Setanta Sports, CNN, Channel Four News, ITN, Daily Express, Daily Star and the Daily Mirror were just some of the outlets to react to the news.

Meanwhile, another Argus exclusive also hit the headlines this week concerning another Team Calzaghe world champion.

The Mail on Sunday reported that Gavin Rees is being lined up for a showdown with Ricky Hatton, nearly three weeks after the Argus broke the news.

WBA light welterweight Rees and his trainer Enzo Calzaghe told the Argus back on December 22 that they were ready for a clash with Hatton after his loss to American Floyd Mayweather.

Now it seems a deal is in the works for a summer clash at Manchester's M.E.N Arena.

The Sunday Mail report that talks are under way to arrange a showdown in May, but the Argus understands Rees will first headline a bill at the Cardiff International Arena in March.

"Nothing will interfere with business - and Hatton versus Rees would be an absolute cracker. Let's start talking with Hatton's team," Warren has said.

"I'd love to get it on with Ricky," said Rees.

"It would hand Ricky a shot at a title, it's a fight the British public will love.

"The WBA title is a very prestigious world title so why wouldn't Ricky fancy going for it? I want the big fights and it would be a right tear-up, but if anyone thinks Ricky versus me would be a miss-match then they're having a laugh.

"I'm a quality boxer who would love to give Ricky a right going over - and I do believe I'd beat him."