With just two days to go before the first episode of BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing starts, Joe Calzaghe gave his thoughts on his forthcoming appearance on the show and how he hopes he has what it takes to win the overall series.
With just two days to go before the first episode of BBC TV's Strictly Come Dancing starts, Joe Calzaghe gave his thoughts on his forthcoming appearance on the show and how he hopes he has what it takes to win the overall series.
"If it was a world title fight I'd now be starving myself for the weigh-in and that was one of the parts of boxing I always hated most. But at least I wouldn't be as nervous as I am now with the start of Strictly Come Dancing just two days away", said Calzaghe after his latest training session this week.
"As I keep telling everyone, apart from lairing around on the disco floor after a couple of drinks, I had never danced a proper step in my life before the Strictly training began. Whatever my Dad says about the family being natural dancers, I started out as a complete novice. Kristina, the lovely and lucky lady assigned by the BBC as my partner, has been a great teacher. We train and dance together and we have a great laugh."
"The training for dancing has actually been pretty tough. I'm still naturally fit from boxing and years of training. But this has been a real challenge requiring serious focus – and that's a good thing for me as I'm no longer boxing."
"So now, after all the hard work and fun of training, it's going to be for real. I'll be nervous on the night the show starts. Not least because of the fact there are likely to be around 10 million people watching on BBC TV as well as a packed studio audience."
"It will be scary when the band strikes up but I'm going to give it a real go because, whatever I do, I like to win. That's the point of competing."
"Good luck to everyone taking part. And fingers – and hopefully not feet – crossed for Kristina and me. Enjoy the show!"
You can watch Joe Calzaghe and his dance partner Kristina Rihanoff perform on BBC One this weekend starting from 8:30pm on Friday.