WE MUST pay tribute to World Champion Joe Calzaghe for the selfless way he took time out of his hectic schedule yesterday to meet those behind the South Gwent Children's Centre.

It was a couple of months ago that Joe agreed to be patron of Sparkle, the charity which is raising the money needed to kit out the centre which will provide support for the 1,200 disabled children and their families in Newport, south Monmouthshire and Torfaen.

The fund still has a long way to go with £1.25m still needed before the centre can be made ready to open. But having support from someone as high profile as Joe can only help the cause.

Despite training twice a day ahead of his New York fight against Roy Jones Jr, the champion took time out to visit the Argus offices and to meet just some of those involved in the fund-raising for the centre.

He also met two of the children who will benefit from it.

And despite his packed diary he then agreed to visit the centre at High Cross to see for himself the fantastic centre which is being developed there.

Considering that he has only days to go before he takes part in what will be his last fight, and knowing what preparations are entailed in the run up to such an important event in his career, we were honoured to play host to him yesterday.

He really is a true champion in all senses of the word.