AN Argus sports writer has appeared alongside actor Michael J. Fox and boxing legend Mike Tyson in a new documentary on Newbridge boxing great Joe Calzaghe.

Michael Pearlman, 34, who is originally from Winchester, has been a sports reporter with the Argus for 11 and a half years and built up a close relationship with the Calzaghes in that period.

He acted as a ghost writer for Enzo Calzaghe’s auto-biography, A Fighting Life, in 2012 and also wrote Joe Calzaghe’s weekly column with the Argus for four years.

Mr Pearlman covered Calzaghe’s final five fights between 2006 and 2008, including memorable bouts against Mikkel Kessler in the Millennium Stadium, Bernard Hopkins in Las Vegas and Super Joe's final fight against Roy Jones Jnr in New York. 

Unsurprisingly, then, producer Vaughan Sivell reached out to Mr Pearlman earlier this year to garner his thoughts on British boxing’s most successful boxing partnership for the ‘Mr Calzaghe’ film.

Following recent documentaries on sportsmen like Formula 1 racing driver Ayrton Senna and football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, Mr Pearlman felt Calzaghe was ripe for similar treatment.

He said: “He [Vaughan Sivell] has done a really good job with it because there’s not a large amount of drama when a boxer doesn’t lose in 46 fights.

“It’s much more about the dynamic between Enzo and Joe if you're not a boxing fan.

“The more time goes on, Joe’s reputation will be only be enhanced. People don’t remember greats less fondly as time goes on. 

“Joe’s legacy will only grow and grow and grow but this film is probably the full stop to this Calzaghe generation.”

The Argus man attended a star-studded premiere at Cineworld in Cardiff last week, with comedian Rhod Gilbert, boxer Nathan Cleverly and numerous Wales rugby internationals in attendance.

Speaking about his debut on the big screen, having previously appeared in a HBO television documentary on boxer Bernard Hopkins, he added: “You can’t be prepared for the shock of hearing your voice and seeing your face on the cinema screen.”