Ian Woosnam won the World Matchplay title in 2001

The next challenge for Calzaghe is a fight against Charles Brewer in Cardiff, later in January, which will be beamed across the United States.

Others in contention include Ian Woosnam, the veteran golfer who bounced back to form to win the World Matchplay and finished third in the Open championship, and triple world cycling champion Nicole Cooke.

Cooke, from Wick in the Vale of Glamorgan, currently holds the junior road racing, time trial and mountain biking world titles and hopes to take her form into the senior ranks.

Snooker's Mark Williams, football's Ryan Giggs and badminton's Kelly Morgan have all had a year to remember, while sprinter Christian Malcolm took home a silver medal from the World Indoor Athletics Championships.

In the team category it looks certain to be a battle between Cardiff City (who won promotion from Division Three), Glamorgan (who won promotion from the Norwich Union League Division Two) and basketball's Rhondda Rebels.

The Rebels won the League and Cup double last season and became the first British club to play in European competition since 1987 against Belgian side Namur.