HARDMAN boxing trainer Enzo Calzaghe met his match in the form of reality TV and former pop star Kerry Katona.

Ms Katona visited Enzo’s Abercarn gym today, where he put her through her paces - including a run up the famous steps where he trained champion fighters like son Joe.

Enzo then gave her one of his trademark tongue-lashings when he thought Ms Katona was drinking too much during a break in a ring workout, before soaking her with the water bottle.

But, not to be intimated, Ms Katona grabbed the bottle off him and chased Enzo around the ring, squirting him back.

As Enzo then worked her hard on the boxing pads, Ms Katona jokingly aimed a low blow at a sensitive area.

The unlikely duo exchanged banter throughout the two-hour workout, shouting motivational lines like "failure is not an option" at each other.

Ms Katona - who had never been to South Wales before - travelled down to enlist Enzo’s help in helping her to find her "Mojo".

She said: "I’ve had a rough ride in life in recent times and came off my mojo and lost my way in life. Exercise is the thing that is keeping me on the straight and narrow."

After getting into boxing films like The Hurricane and seeing a documentary on Joe Calzaghe’s career, she got in touch with Enzo.

She added: "I love boxing as exercise, the blood, sweat and tears. Enzo is a great motivator, but he’s killed me today. I’ll be walking like John Wayne tomorrow."

Ms Katona told Enzo to "treat me like a male boxer, but don’t break any of my nails", adding the work-out he had given her was one of the best natural highs of her life.

"Exercise is like an emotional journey, it is good for bringing your inner side out It’s such a great way to deal with health and issues and I’ve started now so want to keep it up," she added.

Ms Katona said the workout gave her a chance to do research for a boxercise video she’s considering making for women using male techniques, while she was a "guinea pig" for a boot camp Enzo is thinking of running from the gym.

Enzo said he had only trained a couple of women before, but said he was "very impressed" with Ms Katona - especially on the steps, which have broken many a fine boxer. The unlikely couple got on so well, Ms Katona said she may return later this year for a two-week stint at the gym.