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Calzaghe: My proudest moment

10/12/2007

British boxer Joe Calzaghe says winning the BBC's sports personality of the year award is the 'proudest moment of his career'.

The Welshman, who comes from an Italian background, was surprisingly omitted from the top three in last year's voting.

But his achievements this year were rightly recognised after he beat Peter Manfredo in April before stepping up to take on Danish pugilist Mikkel Kessler in November and unify the world super-middleweight title.

Calzaghe is coached by father Enzo, who won the coach of the year award, and beat off competition from emerging formula one star Lewis Hamilton and fellow boxer Ricky Hatton in the voting.

And after receiving his award from former winner Lennox Lewis in Las Vegas, where he had been watching Hatton fight Floyd Mayweather in the early hours of Sunday morning, he said it had crowned an excellent 12 months for him.

"It's the proudest moment of my career," said Calzaghe, who is still unbeaten in all his professional bouts.

"After such a great year and ten years as a world champion this is just the icing on the cake for me.

"It's been very hard - I've worked 25 years to get where I am today. It was a case of years and years of dedication and commitment, and some talent as well, and it's been great.

"I'm tremendously proud, especially with my dad winning as well.

"I've had hundreds of texts already, so when I get back to Wales the celebrations will be awesome."

The Welshman said he felt as if his achievements had now been "properly recognised", adding that it was "amazing" to be voted for by the British public.

And runner-up Hamilton, who came within one race of landing an unprecedented F1 world title in his rookie season, said the boxer was "a worthy winner".

"I've been into boxing mainly because my dad's into it and I grew up watching it," said the 22-year-old.

"I can't say I have totally followed his career - what Joe Calzaghe has done is very different to my job - but he's been phenomenal."