Bernard Hopkins has set his sights set on a heavyweight showdown with David Haye next year.
2010 a big year for Philadelphia veteran
Bernard Hopkins has set his sights set on a heavyweight showdown with David Haye next year.
Former middleweight and light-heavyweight champion Hopkins returns to his home town ring in Philadelphia on Wednesday night to take on Mexican Enrique Ornelas.
The 44 year-old looks to dismantle Ornelas, with a long-awaited re-match already set for March against old foe Roy Jones Jr.
In 2003 Jones Jr made history when beating John Ruiz to become the first middleweight to win a heavyweight title in 100 years.
Hopkins looks to emulate Jones Jr in becoming a middleweight-turned-heavyweight champion in 2010 at the age of 45.
Hopkins said: "I'm going to look good, then I'm going to finish off Roy Jones Jr and then I might become heavyweight champion in 2010."
Hopkins believes he can add to Haye's legacy after the Briton took the WBA crown from 7ft 2in tall Nikolai Valuev.
He said: "Anything is possible; when a guy beats a guy they call 'The Giant' then things happen.
"Just think outside the box. Think who he's been fighting and who he's going to fight and second of all, what weight did he come from and how did he do it.
"So at the end of the day, when you put these things together, you say to yourself, 'is this something that I would buy?' - 'is this something that I will watch?' and whoever wins or loses you will say 'yes I will buy and watch it, because it's interesting,' " he added.
Declaring he's seen it all before, Hopkins is under no illusions of what is ahead.
Motivation
He said: "Never rule anything out with me. People have ruled me out a lot of times in my life, and that's been my biggest motivation.
"December 2 starts a marathon for me; a marathon of super-greatness and the boxing world are going to be scratching their heads. I'm going to have their attention next year."
However before the turn of the New Year Hopkins has the small matter of defeating Ornelas, a tough opponent he is not taking lightly.
"I've got plenty to lose in this fight. I'm not expecting a big front page; I'm expecting to shake off some dust and to get hit a few times.
"And if I want to plan my next three hit-list fights, I have to look at Enrique like he's Roy Jones. If I don't everything is blown," he added.
