© Jane Warburton / Saddo Boxing

Joe Calzaghe may have retired the undefeated super middleweight and light heavyweight champion but it seems that his footwork on the dance floor doesn’t match up to that in the ring.

This weekend saw the start of BBC‘s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ and Joe made his debut alongside professional dancer and blonde beauty Kristina Rihanoff.

“I never really danced before,” stated the Welsh Boxer, “so I was pretty nervous taking this up - probably more nervous than when I step in to the ring for a fight!

"Outside the ring I’m pretty relaxed - a bit sensitive sometimes,” he laughs. “When I fight, obviously my ‘colour’ is black, so I want to stay away from pink - I already told them that. No pink for me!”

Stepping out in dark purple waistcoat, trousers, shirt and tie - Joe danced the Tango. Looking a little stiff-legged, Joe didn’t seem altogether comfortable out there but it was surely compensated by the glittering moves of partner Kristina.

Comments by the four judges ranged from “You are a sexy couple” by new judge Alesha, to “That was just the most boring tango I’ve ever seen,” from Frenchman Bruno (not Frank the boxer, of course!) and even “You lacked attack and your bottom sticks out,” spat Craig and finally Len said "I expected aggression but didn’t get it".

Their scores amounted to an unimpressive 16 out of 40.

Oh dear - not the best of starts…but perhaps round two will be better.

Next up was the Cha-Cha and Joe - this time in satin lilac shirt and dark trousers - danced to the sounds of ‘Chain of Fools’. Looking slightly more relaxed against a gyrating Kristina - he was hoping for better comments this time.

“You’re a slow bloomer!” said Len, “Poor footwork and no sense of rhythm,” drawled Bruno, “Two words: rigor mortis!” Craig said flatly.

The judges gave another uninspiring 16 out of 40, leaving Joe and Kristina at the bottom of the leader board out of a possible eight couples.

Never mind, as after a public telephone vote Joe and Kristina were saved the embarrassment of being ejected in the first week - leaving two other couples to ‘fight’ for their spot. Sadly, it was former tennis champion Martina Hingis who was sent packing.

Tune in next weekend to see if Joe can loosen-up to win the approval of the four judges from hell? Will he give in and wear pink? And can Kristina top the sparkling back-less creation she wore on this week's show?

Share/Save | (10) comments | Add your comments
Click to read more boxing articles by Jane Warburton

Discuss in Boxing Forum

---

Related Boxing Articles...

• Calzaghe Returns, But Against Who?

  

  The ongoing saga of WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe continues in 2005, but with more mystery than usual. >
  
  

• Calzaghe Making Waves Over Lacy fight.

  Doubt has overshadowed the possibility of Joe Calzaghe's WBO/IBF super middleweight unification showdown with American Jeff Lacy four months before the proposed bout is to even take place. Calzaghe is >
  
  

• Calzaghe-Lacy Unification Bout Moved to London.

  Nothing is concrete yet with Joe Calzaghe having to win his next title defense against unknwon super middleweight Evans Ashira, but if he does win, Calzaghe will likely have to >
  
  

• Still no Opponent for Calzaghe.

  Longtime WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe will return to action this September, though who against is not yet known at this time. After having a title fight with Brian >
  
  

• Calzaghe Pulled From Magee Bout.

  I have just received word from Ireland that Joe Calzaghe has been pulled out of his scheduled fight with Brian Magee that was set to take place at the King's >
  
  

• Calzaghe Still Seeking Opponent.

  

  Any super middleweights in the world feel like trying to shock the boxing world by becoming the WBO super middleweight champion? All you need >
  
  

• Calzaghe Defeats Veit…..Again.

  It took a little longer than their first meeting, but the result remained exactly the same. Welsh WBO super middleweight champion of the world Joe Calzaghe took his power to >
  
  

• Calzaghe Waits For Opponent.

  WBO super middleweight champion Joe Calzaghe is preparing to make the sixteenth defense of his title in front of the fans at the MEN arena in Manchester, England on the >
  
  

• Calzaghe Injured, Off Boxing Homecoming In Cardiff!

  WBO/IBF Super Middleweight Champion Joe Calzaghe has reported re-injured his troubled left hand during training sessions and has had to pull out of his planned triumphant homecoming set for July >
  
  

• Hennessy Boxing: Froch Rubbishes Calzaghe’s Las Vegas Victory

  Carl Froch says he will produce a better performance than Joe Calzaghe did at the weekend in his WBC Super Middleweight Title Final Eliminator against Denis Inkin of Russia at >
  
  

---

Boxing News Tags: Joe Calzaghe