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A Knockout Hit - Joe Calzaghe

07-04-2006 11:49

The longest serving world champion boxer, The Destroyer' Joe Calzaghe talks exclusively about the current crop of boxers his boxing hero's football and the music that has helped shape his life.

Joe Calzaghe one of Britain’s greatest boxing legends and at 34 he’s still top of his game. Nicknamed ‘The Destroyer’ he is the sports longest serving World Champion. Weighing in this week with the songs that make the soundtrack to his glittering career, Orange Playlist welcomes Wales’ very own Joe Calzaghe

My Music

Joe kicks off his playlist choices with Linkin Park’s ‘Papercut’ as his past track - "Linkin Park have been one of my favourite bands in recent years - I saw them in Cardiff last year. I train to their music, it really gets me in the right mood before fights. I’ve entered into the ring to this. It gets me in the mood to beat somebody up in that ring."

It’s Black Eyed Peas’ ‘Pump It’ that Joe picks as his present track - "It’s a happy tune. It’s an album of the moment, my kids like it and my girlfriend likes it so it’s fun family music."

Joe clearly has an eye for a hit as well as a knockout punch as he picks ‘Crazy’ by Gnarls Barkley as his future track - "It’s a new kind of a sound. It’s a funky bluesy sound. I first heard it training the other day. It hasn’t been released yet but it’s getting a lot of airplay so I’m sure it will be No.1." For his dedication track he picks ‘Living In the Past’ by Jethro Tull for his mum Jacqueline - "My mum absolutely loves this song. It’s the first song I remember her ever playing. My family is very close." ‘Who Wants to Live Forever’ by Queen is Joe’s all time favourite track - "This comes from one of my favourite films The Highlander. I used to love this film."

Joe Calzaghe - family, celebrity fans, footballers and why women have no place in the ring.

Audley Harrison and current fighters

"He’s called Ordinary Harrison isn’t he? Very Ordinary Harrison! His career has gone down hill. Audley isn’t going to make it as a professional he isn’t, he lost his last fight, he will never be a world champion. Amir Khan has a great chance, he’s got fast hands, he’s got power, he’s knocking everyone down whose put in front of him. He’s only 19 so one day he could win the title."

A fan of Rocky

"The first song I ever bought was Burning Heart by Survivor off the Rocky IV soundtrack. This is pretty embarrassing - Ghostbusters was probably another of the first!?"

Bully me now!

"When I was 15 I was only nine stone so some of the bigger guys picked on me. I don’t think they would now!"

Celebrity supporters

"I went to the same school as Manic Street Preachers. They come to fights occasionally. Thank you guys for sending me the Cristal champagne after the last fight."

Heroes

"I never had any big sporting heroes. David Coverdale was probably my biggest hero when I was 15/16. For a couple of years I was a massive White Snake fan. Then I’m also a massive Juventus fan thanks to my dad. In terms of boxing it would be Sugar Ray Leonard, Marvin Haggler - they were the fighters that inspired me to box."