Quotes from Joe Calzaghe

I've never wanted fame. I've only ever wanted recognition.

When I was 17, my mum made me work in a cake factory for three days - I hated it.

You think that after becoming world champion, you're going to be a massive superstar with lots of lucrative bouts against great fighters, but that never materialised for me.

When I was about 12, I realised I wasn't going to make it as a top footballer, but I won my first British ABA title at 13. From then on, I wanted to be a world champion.

When I was 14, I told my careers adviser that I was going to be a world champion boxer. Of course she laughed.

There is a world of difference between being a reality TV star and a world champion boxer.

I'm somebody from a little tiny town, who had boxed in leisure centres, and my last fight was in Madison Square Garden against one of the greats. What a great way to finish off.

The world title in a second weight division and a win in America is just the icing on the cake of my career.

To win the four major title belts, to be the unbeaten champion and 10 years a champion - it's amazing. I'm so proud.

I swore to myself that I was never going to lose again, and that's what drives me still. More than money, more than titles, more than fame, it's the desire not to be defeated.

I am not an aggressive person. I am a disciplined, chilled, and relaxed guy.

I've fought in Copenhagen before, and it's not the most hostile place in the world.

Before the Roy Jones fight, I knew I was going to retire because I couldn't train, my hands had gone, and the hunger had gone.

I was told as a teenager I'd never box again. I had a really bad wrist injury; I couldn't even shadow box for six months. I went through surgery just to try and manage it.

Beating Chris Eubank in 1997 was a great win and the toughest fight of my life, and beating Jeff Lacy was great, too. But Mikkel Kessler topped it, winning all the belts and fighting in front of all those fans in my home town.

I'm a Juventus fan, although I did support Chelsea for some time - mainly because of Gianfranco Zola. Zola is from the same town as my father Enzo, in Sardinia.

If I'm greedy and keep chasing the money, it's inevitable I will be beaten one day.

I definitely was a big puncher early on in my career, and I used to load up with my left hand. Then, towards the end of my career, I had hand problems and needed injections in my hands for the pain.

I thank God that I had such an amazing father who was my trainer as well.

There were times people tried to get me to change trainers, but I stuck with my dad.

I believe amateur boxing training should be available in schools. Not for all, but for those who want to.

I've always been motivated to be a champion since the age of 13 and I love being a winner.

I honestly think that a Pavlik fight would be easier than Jones because styles make fights. He's one dimensional, comes in straight lines, I love that.

When I boxed against Jeff Lacy, that was one fight that I was so proud of.