AS I write this I have just been congratulated again by one of the guys on the Argus on reaching 15 years as a professional boxer.

I wish people would stop congratulating me, it makes me feel about 120 years old!

I must admit, it’s a nice feeling to have reached a 15-year landmark, I can only reiterate that I don’t intend to get to 16 years.

It was October 1, 1993 that I made my debut at the Cardiff Arms Park, but I don’t remember that much about the fight.

It had been pouring with rain and the weather was horrendous, so I remember feeling I wanted to end it quickly.

I was in with a guy called Paul Hanlon, he didn’t have too much about him, but the occasion felt strange to me.

This was the big stage, the paid ranks, but only about a dozen people were watching, as it was so early in the bill and I was freezing.

However, after I had beaten Hanlon by KO in the first round – putting him down twice as I recall – I started to enjoy everything a bit more.

As the night unfolded, culminating in Lennox Lewis beating Frank Bruno, it started to dawn on me that I had been involved in a massive bill, a proper British superfight.

At the time Bruno and Lewis were probably the two most popular fighters in the UK and the heavyweight division worldwide was still worth talking about.

I knew then that I would be a world champion, I was unbelievably cocksure.

However, I must confess, never in my wildest dreams did I believe I would remain at the top for so long, as an undefeated world champion.

It used to upset me that I didn’t get the recognition I deserved, in any country other than Wales, but I got over that a few years ago.

I realise now that at times I turned down opportunities to raise my profile, because I always thought being a world champion boxer was enough.

I have written before in this column about my most special nights in the sport, you guys could recite them as easily as I can.

But I don’t usually give much thought to how I have stayed on top for so long. I think there are two key factors. The first, unquestionably, is fear.

It is a fear of losing, of becoming just another British ex-world champion, which has kept me motivated for so long.

When I train, it is always at 100%, I don’t cut corners and this is again down to fear, what if my opponent is doing more training than me? What if my fitness isn’t as good as his if the fight goes the distance? Those kind of questions make me fret and push myself even harder.

The other factor, so explicitly pointed out by my former promoter Frank Warren over the weekend, is my desire to make as much money as possible for me and my family.

I didn’t grow up in a mansion, didn’t have a silver spoon in my mouth and I believe that makes anyone more determined to make a success of their career.

Life as a kid was great because I had a loving family, but we didn’t have a lot of money and it made me appreciate treats in life a whole lot more.

It’s strange for me now with my two boys, because obviously, they do come from a family with a bit of money, they don’t go without.

But it’s always been a massive priority in our family to make sure that the boys never become spoiled brats, that they realise money doesn’t grow on trees and that you must work hard to make a decent living.

Whatever they decide to do in life as a career they know that their mum and dad will support them 100%, as long as they don’t want to be professional boxers!

Next week I begin sparring, ahead of my last fight, against Roy Jones Jr on November 8 at Madison Square Garden.

We have decided to get some sparring partners in from elsewhere this time around, but next week will be just me and the boys from the gym, namely Bradley Pryce and Enzo Maccarinelli.

Both of them are in great shape and just waiting for dates for their next fights.

Finally, I just want to send my best wishes to a former stablemate, Gary ‘Rocket Man’ Lockett, who retired from boxing last Friday. Gary is someone I have known for many, many years and I have always been an admirer of his skills in the ring and his terrific attitude to the sport.

He’s honest and hardworking and it wasn’t until he joined Team Calzaghe a couple of years ago that I realised just how dedicated he is.

He doesn’t love boxing – like a lot of us in the gym do – but he loved pushing himself as far as he could and he enjoyed a very solid career in my view.

A lot of fighters never get near a world title shot and Gary did, albeit against Kelly Pavlik who proved too hot to handle.

But Gary knows that was probably as big as it gets and rather than spend the next few years fighting smaller fights, he’s decided to bow out.

That is something I definitely respect and relate to, but I am expecting a very different outcome in my last ever fight.