Strictly Joe gets a Sugar boost

Strictly Come Dancing contestant Joe Calzaghe has been offered some words of encouragement by a fellow boxing legend.

Sugar Ray Leonard urged the Welshman to "hang in there" after a series of poor performances with partner Kristina Rihanoff on the prime time BBC1 show.

The former four-weight champion from Maryland, USA, spoke during a visit to Calzaghe's home turf in south Wales.

He had this advice for the Welsh former champion: "Move your feet".

Leonard was in Pontllanfraith, Caerphilly, to attend a business meeting about the possibility of marketing a high-tech punching bag, called the Calzaghe Counter-Punch in the US.

The training aid was developed in partnership with Calzaghe and his close friend and amateur boxing coach, Kevin Davies.

Calzaghe was unable to meet Leonard due to filming commitments on Strictly Come Dancing, but the pair spoke on the phone.

Calzaghe's father and former trainer, Enzo, instead deputised for him.

"He [Joe Calzaghe] couldn't make it because his feet are hurting," said Leonard, famed for his lightning fast hands inside the ring and his eloquence outside it.

"He says dancing is much harder than boxing."

When Leonard asked the gathering of reporters and photographers how Calzaghe was doing on the show, there was silence before an eruption of laughter.

Leonard then said: "I have asked the same question all over, but nothing is coming out of their mouths!"

He also revealed he once considered taking part in the US version of the show, called Dancing with the Stars.

But he declined after his children told him they would be too embarrassed.

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