Calzaghe talks of Strictly nerves

Former boxing champion Joe Calzaghe admits his nerves are getting the better of him on Strictly Come Dancing.

Speaking at the launch of an anti-bullying charity, Calzaghe spoke of "freezing" in front of the cameras.

He said despite having fought in front of crowds of 50,000, he was struggling to control his nerves in the BBC ballroom dancing competition.

Calzaghe was in Cardiff to back the launch of the Welsh arm of the anti-bullying charity Beatbullying.

The former world super-middleweight champion, who was bullied as a teenager, is already a patron of the national charity.

He said it was a very important issue to him and it was vital for young people to have somebody to turn to.

The charity Beatbullying Wales aims to help victims of bullying with a range of strategies devised by young people.

CALZAGHE ON BEING BULLIED "For two years I was bullied, called names and ignored by former friends which turned me from a happy, out-going kid who enjoyed school and schoolwork, into an introverted wreck, detached from his studies and scared of his own shadow during school hours. It was a very tough time for me. I bottled a lot of it up inside. It just goes to show if it can happen to me it can happen to anybody, it's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about. I went into a shell, my personality changed. I used to hate going to school. "

The Welsh boxer, from Newbridge, Caerphilly county, has already helped launch the charity's UK-wide Cyber Mentors campaign, a social-networking site staffed by more than 700 youngsters who offer advice to their peers about bullying.

He said: "On a personal note, I went through a lot of bullying myself aged 14, 15. It really affected me in school, affected my personality - it was a painful time for me.

"Back then, there was nobody I could speak to so this is creating awareness for people going through the same thing I went through in my life.

"They can actually speak about it, can go online [with] Cyber Mentors, talk to other children about their problems and people who have been through similar situations and do something about it and get help to expose the cowards, the bullies."

Calzaghe, who quit boxing this year after 46 unbeaten fights, also talked about his trials and tribulations on Strictly Come Dancing.

He said: "I'm really enjoying the training aspect of it, meeting people, there's some great people on the show.

"I've just got to get rid of these nerves - I keep freezing on the Saturday. I've got in a ring in front of 50,000 and fought somebody trying to take your head off but I'm just going out there and freezing.

'Amazing support'

"Every week is getting a little bit easier but I'm not producing what I know I can do."

Calzaghe said he was "so much better" in training but had not produced it on the night.

"When they say stuff... I'm stiff because I'm nervous! I can move a bit, that's what's frustrating for me," he said.

"But at the end of the day, I'm so happy and humbled and proud - I've had so much amazing support. Everyone in Wales wants to see me in the show and keep me in.

"It means a lot to me. That's more help than listening to that guy at the end who's obviously got a problem with me!"

Despite newspaper talk about the nature of his relationship with dance partner Kristina Rihanoff, Calzaghe would not be drawn.

"She's great, we spend a long time together and we get on really well," he said.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version