Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers Britain has ever produced, Joe Calzaghe looks back on his remarkable journey. Thirty years ago, he faced a significant test at an Essex leisure centre, which marked a pivotal moment in his career. In an exclusive interview with Sky Sports, Calzaghe reminisced about his first professional title defence, where he was the away fighter. "It was my first British title defence, and I was 16-0 at the time.

My promoter, Mickey Duff, had lost the purse bid to Barry Hearn and Matchroom, so we had to fight in Mark Delaney's backyard," Calzaghe explained. Prior to this bout, Calzaghe had dominated his opponents, with 14 of his 16 fights ending before the fifth round. However, this match was different, with a hostile atmosphere that included booing, spitting, and name-calling.

Calzaghe remained focused, using the negative energy to fuel his performance. "I started fast, punching hard with my left hand, and dropped him in the first round. I controlled the fight, which was stopped in the fifth round. It was a statement win against an unbeaten opponent," he said.

The victory marked a significant milestone in Calzaghe's career, but it also led to some disappointment for his promoter, Mickey Duff, who had bet on Calzaghe to win within the first four rounds. Calzaghe's corner was filled with strong characters, including his father and trainer, Enzo, who was the central figure in his career. When asked about potential conflicts, Calzaghe made it clear that his father was the boss. Following the win, Calzaghe was just one successful defence away from earning the Lonsdale Belt outright.

However, a rolled ankle suffered during a training run due to poor road maintenance in the Welsh valleys put an end to that dream. Calzaghe eventually split with Mickey Duff and teamed up with Frank Warren, relinquishing his British title in the process.

By October 1997, Calzaghe had realised his dream of becoming a world champion, beating Chris Eubank to become the WBO super-middleweight champion. When asked about his regrets, Calzaghe reflected that he has none, believing that things happened for a reason.

He went on to have a remarkable career, headlining in Las Vegas and at Madison Square Garden, cementing his status as one of Britain's all-time greats.