Sport: Joe Calzaghe's boxing career

Undefeated world super-middleweight and light-heavyweight boxer Joe Calzaghe announced his retirement after reigning as a world champion for more than 11 years, quitting with a record of 46 wins from 46 fights Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty Images

This is where Calzaghe's long journey to world champion started – the small and ramshackle Newbridge boxing gym, south Wales Photograph: Richard Saker

Calzaghe trains in the ring with his father and trainer Enzo looking on from the ropes, at Newbridge Gym in 2002 Photograph: David Davies/PA

Chris Eubank recoils after Calzaghe lands a big left Photograph: Brandon Malone/Action Images

Calzaghe celebrates beating Eubank to take the vacant WBO super-middleweight title in October 1997. Calzaghe considers it to have been his hardest fight. After dropping Eubank in the first, Eubank rallied and Calzaghe had to dig deep and, for the first time in his career, go to 12 rounds Photograph: PA

Robin Reid lands a big right on Calzaghe's chin but fails to win after a controversial split points defeat in 1999 Photograph: Nick Potts/Action Images

Calzaghe throws a left uppercut to the head during his laboured victory over Miguel Jimenez during their WBO super-middleweight title bout at Cardiff Castle in 2002 Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Calzaghe on his way to a fifth-round victory over Omar Sheika in the fight for the WBO super-middleweight championship. Calzaghe put in a classy and physically dominant performance to put away the American who prior to the bout had wound up the champion by saying that he would 'kill' him when they met at Wembley Conference Centre Photograph: Graham Chadwick/Getty Images

Calzaghe is knocked down for the first time in his career by Byron Mitchell, but he rose from the canvas to tear into his opponent with a flurry of punches and, in a pulsating second round, knocked down Mitchell before the referee stepped in to stop the fight Photograph: Andy Couldridge/Action Images

Old posters on the wall at the Newbridge Boxing Club show when 'Joey' Calzaghe was on the undercard at fights Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Calzaghe trades punches with Jeff Lacy during their world super-middleweight title unification bout Photograph: Nick Potts/PA Archive/PA Photos

Calzaghe knocks down Lacy on his way to a points decision to win the WBO and IBF super-middleweight unification title fight at the MEN Arena on 5 March 2006 Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty Images

Calzaghe takes a punch from Mikkel Kessler during his victory over the Dane. The win added Kessler's WBA and WBC to the WBO title Calzaghe already held to make the Welshman the undisputed super-middleweight champion of the world Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty Images

Jubilation is etched on the face of Joe Calzaghe as he celebrates a unanimous decision for his victory over Kessler Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Calzaghe's stupendous record and the fact that he became undisputed world super-middleweight champion was recognised by British public in 2007 when he was voted BBC Sports Personality of the Year. He received the award, with fellow fighter Ricky Hatton, who came third, in Las Vegas Photograph: Peter Byrne/PA

Blows are traded by Calzaghe and Bernard Hopkins during their light heavyweight bout in April 2008 in Las Vegas. Despite Calzaghe being floored by a straight right in the opening exchanges, and Hopkins continuing to do damage with clinical shots throughout, Calzaghe did all the work in the fight, his work-rate forcing a tired Hopkins to stall for time and give the Welshman a split-decision victory Photograph: John Gichigi/Getty Images

An ecstatic Calzaghe celebrates after defeating Hopkins – the Welshman's first bout on US soil Photograph: Steve Marcus/Reuters

Despite being in different premises, the Newbridge Boxing Club is still a low key place Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Enzo watches his son train in February 2008 at Newbridge Photograph: Tom Jenkins

Calzaghe is knocked down in the first round against Roy Jones Jr of the US during the light-heavyweight bout at Madison Square Garden. The undefeated Calzaghe recovered from the knockdown to pummel Jones until the final bell to earn a unanimous 12-round decision Photograph: Nick Potts/PA

Jones Jr and Calzaghe exchange punches at Madison Square Garden Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

A bloodied Jones Jr after his 12-round decision defeat to Calzaghe Photograph: Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images

Calzaghe celebrates his victory over Jones Jr, in what was to be his last fight Photograph: Al Bello/Getty Images

A tender moment between father and son as they celebrate another successful title defence Photograph: Andrew Couldridge/Action Images

A proud Calzaghe shows his CBE award for services to sport and voluntary services in Wales, which he received from Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace in November 2008 Photograph: John Stillwell/AFP/Getty Images