Champ's appeal over ban (From Free Press Series)

Champ's appeal over ban

Gwent's world champion boxer, Joe Calzaghe, was banned from driving for six months for speeding - but says he knows nothing about it.

Super-middleweight champ Calzaghe, 32, said he was never told to appear in court and has launched an immediate appeal.

Court officials confirmed Newbridge-born Calzaghe was convicted of speeding in his BMW by magistrates in Cwmbran on Monday, November 22.

He was disqualified from driving for six months and fined a total of £245 in his absence. The ban came after previous points on his licence were 'totted up'.

But Calzaghe, who was given the MBE by Prince Charles last year, claimed he knew nothing of the ban.

"That's the first I've heard of it," he said. "I haven't had any letter telling me to go to court. I had six points and a fine a few months ago for speeding but that's it. I'm not banned as far as I know. I'm shocked and a bit concerned to tell you the truth."

A spokesman for Sport Network, manager Frank Warren's sports promotion company, said Calzaghe would be contesting the ban. "Joe hasn't committed any offence he knows of," said the spokesman. "We will be writing to the courts and in due course there will be another hearing to get this out in the open.

"The bottom line is he had received a ban in his absence and we have got to get to the bottom of this.

"There will have to be another hearing because Joe maintains he was not involved in any offence."

Calzaghe won his WBO title by beating Chris Eubank in 1997, and is Britain's longest serving world title holder.

But this year has been tough for Calzaghe both in and out of the ring. A big money fight with light-heavyweight champ Glen Johnson was called off after Calzaghe suffered an injury.