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| 'Nervous' Calzaghe picks up CBE | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Undefeated world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe admitted to being nervous as he received his CBE from the Queen at Buckingham Palace. | |
| Calzaghe was recognised for services to sport and voluntary services in Wales, in the Queen's Birthday Honours. | Calzaghe was recognised for services to sport and voluntary services in Wales, in the Queen's Birthday Honours. |
| "I think she said I was undefeated. I blabbered something out," he said after the ceremony. | |
| Earlier this month, he recorded his 46th unbeaten fight by defeating American Roy Jones Jr in New York. | Earlier this month, he recorded his 46th unbeaten fight by defeating American Roy Jones Jr in New York. |
| Trained by his father Enzo - who joined him at the Palace - Calzaghe, from Newbridge, has dominated the super-middleweight division for 10 years. | |
| Calzaghe said he could barely remember what the Queen had said to him as he was so nervous. | |
| "I was pretty relaxed until I got to the front then I started to get nervous. It's nerve-wracking talking to the Queen. | |
| "It's a lot easier talking about boxing," he said. | |
| Proud as punch - Joe Calzaghe with his CBE outside Buckingham PalaceEnlarge Image | Proud as punch - Joe Calzaghe with his CBE outside Buckingham PalaceEnlarge Image |
| "She said I do a lot of charity work and I said I do a lot of work with children." | |
| The boxer, who is also an MBE, said he was still undecided whether to retire. | |
| "It'll have to be something really special to make me want to fight again but I'll decide in the new year," he said. | |
| "There'll always be another up-and-coming fighter. It depends how long you want to go on. It depends if I want to push it a bit or stop." | |
| "I'm not going with great expectations," he said. "Lewis Hamilton is the bookies' favourite but you've got all the Olympians too. It's been a great year for British sport. | |
| "I'm one of the contenders and it's great to be in that position. I've won it once so I'm happy." | |
| Calzaghe was accompanied to Buckingham Palace by his parents Enzo and Jackie and his girlfriend Jo-Emma Lavin. | |
| Enzo added: "It's been a fantastic year for him". | |
| In November 2007, Calzaghe beat Mikel Kessler to unify the WBO, WBA and WBC titles for the first time. | |
| He then stepped up to light-heavyweight and defeated Bernard Hopkins in April to claim the championship belt. | |
| He outclassed Jones Jr in their Madison Square Garden bout despite being knocked down in the first round, earning himself plaudits as the UK's greatest boxer yet. | He outclassed Jones Jr in their Madison Square Garden bout despite being knocked down in the first round, earning himself plaudits as the UK's greatest boxer yet. |
| Also receiving honours at the palace ceremony was actor Don Warrington, best known for playing Philip Smith in the 70s sitcom Rising Damp, and a contestant in the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing. | |
| Architect Lord Rogers was made a Companion of Honour, while Sir Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving MP and a former deputy leader of the party, was knighted. | Architect Lord Rogers was made a Companion of Honour, while Sir Alan Beith, the Liberal Democrats' longest-serving MP and a former deputy leader of the party, was knighted. |
| Joe Calzaghe with his parents and girlfriend outside Buckingham Palace | Joe Calzaghe with his parents and girlfriend outside Buckingham Palace |