MAY I firstly take this opportunity to wish all the readers of this column a happy Christmas, it seems amazing that we’ve reached that time already, this year really has flown by.

Nothing reminded me that more than attending the Sports Personality of the Year event on Sunday night in Liverpool, where I knew (or certainly presumed) I would be surrendering my title that I won last year.

It’s strange really, I had maybe a better year in 2008 than in 2007, but I knew for certain that I wasn’t going to win this time around.

It’s been a phenomenal year for British sport with the Olympics and I was really chuffed that Chris Hoy won in the end, he really deserved it after winning three gold medals.

I have to be honest, I thought Lewis Hamilton would take the title, but like I say, Hoy was the most deserving and I was pleased for him.

Usually I take a look back at the year that was in the final column of the year; I like to give a mention to all the guys from the Team Calzaghe stable.

However, we’ve not collectively had the best of years this time around, Gavin Rees and Enzo Maccarinelli losing their world titles, Bradley Pryce winning his only fight but not getting a chance to showcase his talents, Kerry Hope denied a fight in New York at the last minute and Mo Nasir yet to make his debut.

So I guess in this instance I should stick to myself, it’s nice to have the chance to reflect on the year without being asked whether I am retiring or not!

I feel incredibly proud of how my fights panned out in 2008.

Two fights, two huge battles and both massively satisfying victories in America, once and for all answering those who called me ‘Stay at home Joe.’ Fighting Bernard Hopkins in Vegas was a dream fight, orchestrated by me after I paid out of my own pocket to fly out to Vegas for the Ricky Hatton versus Floyd Mayweather fight in order to bump into B-Hop.

When he said that rubbish about never losing to a white boy I could barely contain my happiness, I knew there and then he’d all but guaranteed the fight would take place.

For years I wanted to fight Hopkins and though I found a lot of things in Vegas difficult – the climate, time difference, stuff like that, it was a wonderful feeling walking out in the Thomas and Mack Center and seeing so many of my fans had travelled over.

It wasn’t a great fight, I wasn’t spectacular and if the truth be told, I was pretty down on myself when I arrived home and started watching it back.

Winning on a split decision is never that satisfying and with everyone saying Hopkins was a shot fighter – as in over-the-hill – it only made me feel worse, he came to spoil and the referee didn’t help matters either.

But then one of my personal highlights of the boxing year happened (for selfish reasons if truth be told), Hopkins destroying Kelly Pavlik, the middleweight I was apparently ducking and cheapening my legacy by not fighting.

Hopkins said it was the best performance of his career and it puts a different complexion on me beating him. I can always look back on that with real satisfaction now, knowing that Hopkins was far from shot.

While I didn’t enjoy much about the Hopkins fight, the experience of beating Roy Jones Junior was almost entirely positive.

It was hugely liberating to do all the negotiating in my first fight where I was representing myself, as was Roy, we didn’t need any promoters.

It was a dream come true to compete in Madison Square Garden and I genuinely love New York, it’s a favourite destination of mine and we felt at home over there.

The performance against Roy was certainly a lot better than the one against Hopkins, if for no other reason than I got off the canvas and back to my feet following one of the biggest shots I’ve ever taken.

Looking back at the fight, Roy walks away when I hit the deck and you can tell he thought the fight was over, I really was in trouble, I didn’t hear the count until the referee got to three.

But I came back and felt fantastic in the later rounds especially, I knew how well I was boxing and really was enjoying it.

After the fight I celebrated in a Manhattan bar with friends, family and many other well wishers and it was one of those moments that I will look back on fondly forever. I also visited Buckingham Palace to collect my CBE, so I really can’t grumble about my year.

A common question to ask boxers this time of year is what do you think the fight of the year was? Obviously Calzaghe v Jones! Just kidding.

I didn’t see Carl Froch’s recent contender for that title in full, so I will go for the absolute war earlier this year between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Angel Cotto. Margarito was absolutely inspiring in that fight, winning by TKO after 11 sensational rounds.

And so to 2009… Here is my wish list. More exposure for the members of the Team Calzaghe gym, more fights and more coverage.

A successful start for Calzaghe Promotions, dad and I intend to put on at least three or four shows, starting locally and hopefully giving the up and coming young talent in Wales a chance to shine.

In terms of who I will be watching out for, obviously our old stable member and good friend Nathan Cleverly, who I hope can continue to impress as light heavyweight Commonwealth champion.

I am looking forward to seeing some big issues settled around the welter and light welter divisions as well, Ricky Hatton doesn’t know how lucky he is fighting at that weight, it is the division to be in.

It could be super Manny Pacquiao or the returning Floyd Mayweather next for him and both would be huge fights and massive paydays for Ricky.

Personally I would love to see Pacquiao v Mayweather, that could be truly epic.

I am also keen to see how David Haye will fare at heavyweight.

I can’t help feeling he may have picked the wrong Klitschko to fight in June, having taken the harder option first in facing Vitali, who I feel has a better chin than his brother.

David will be a big underdog with such little heavyweight experience, but he certainly impresses with his attitude and desire to give the fans a spectacle and you have to give him credit for that.

What the year holds in store for me I couldn’t possibly say. Not yet anyway…