I AM now two weeks into what I would class as proper' training ahead of the Mikkel Kessler fight at the Millennium Stadium on November 3.

It is a great relief to be training without just coming back from a hand injury, something that has been an issue for me far too much in the past few years.

As you all know, I did suffer damage after my last fight, against Peter Manfredo in April.

However, though I don't like only fighting twice a year, the upside has been not having to test my damaged hand too quickly.

I was able to let the injury heal properly over the early part of the summer and just kept ticking over with my fitness work in the gym.

Now I am ready to go full-pelt, I will be able to do more sparring than for my last couple of fights and I feel great.

A break in the training comes at the beginning of September when I am off to New York to do some press conferences with Kessler.

I will be doing bits of stuff for HBO as well, though no TV work.

I think the promoters were keen for me to do more press out there, but I have commitments with my kids and I also don't want to miss out on more training than is necessary.

However, this is a huge fight and it's somewhat inevitable to do plenty of press for it.

I enjoy going over to America and it is great that so much interest exists over there.

My fight with Kessler will be followed a month later by Ricky Hatton against Floyd Mayweather, another clash where something has to give' in terms of unbeaten records.

I think I will go to Vegas and support Ricky, it'll be a great way to cap off what will have hopefully been a really good year for me.

I think this has been a great year for getting fights made that the people really want to see and I am looking forward to some verbal sparring with Kessler.

He's a lot more intelligent than Jeff Lacy is and on the one occasion I met him we spoke and it was very cordial.

However, Kessler has already called me a slapper' in the build up to this fight, saying I don't have the power to hurt him.

This is probably the 40th time one of my opponents has said that about me in the lead-up to a fight and it is like water off a duck's back.

I won't criticise the guy because I respect him as a fighter.

He's undefeated and that is no easy achievement, he is a good fighter who has earned the right to be involved in such a huge fight.

However, I think he might have a surprise when we get in the ring.

He has said he will only need to land one-in-three punches to hurt me, I think I will only need to land one-in-ten!

My hand speed will be too much for him on the night and I love fighting orthodox European boxers, it suits me down to the ground.

Often fighters who mouth off are all bark and no bite.

Look at Winky Wright and Bernard Hopkins, they had plenty of verbals before they fought but once they were in the ring they only threw about four punches each!

People keep mentioning his power and the problems it could cause me, but I think my power will hurt him.

I intend to slap' him very hard indeed!

In all honesty I am more confident about this fight than any other big one in my career, I can't wait and hope to see plenty of you at the Millennium Stadium.

I was thrilled to see Wales taking a big step forward in the football with their 1-0 win in Bulgaria.

It's so hard for them having lost players like Ryan Giggs, but hopefully the next generation are going to do us proud. Obviously it is too late to get back into contention for Euro 2008, but maybe the World Cup in 2010 is a more realistic prospect.

As for England, well, things seem to be going from bad to worse. To be honest I can't believe they appointed such a mediocre coach as Steve McClaren, these are top players and they should have a top coach.

I still think they will qualify but it'll be touch and go and it really shouldn't be.