IT has been a hard week of training in the Team Calzaghe gym, but things are going like clockwork in preparation for my fight with Roy Jones Jr.

We head to New York at the end of the month in preparation for the fight on November 8 and things are really racing along.

Next week is probably the most significant of all, because as from Monday I will be sparring.

As I have mentioned in these pages, we are getting in ‘outsiders’ for sparring this time around, the first occasion in a long-time that has been necessary.

I have top quality sparring options within the stable – Enzo Maccarinelli and Bradley Pryce to name just two – but we feel it’s important to mix it up ahead of this fight.

It has been an annoyingly long-time since I have knocked anyone out and that is exactly what I intend to do to Roy Jones, so we’re getting in some guys who possess some of his attributes.

Nothing will be left to chance, I underestimated the threat of Bernard Hopkins and almost paid the price, I am still not happy about how I performed in that fight.

This is my last fight – I grow more convinced by the day, you try road running at 5am in your late 30s – and I want it to be very special for me, for my dad and family and of course my fans.

It’s strange in our gym at the moment; I am in a minority working towards a definite fight night date.

Pryce, Maccarinelli and our newest member, exciting young talent Mo Nasir, are all currently waiting for dates to fight.

It’s frustrating for them and they are all in fantastic shape, I only hope something is worked out for them soon.

Kerry Hope is coming with me to New York and will be fighting on the bill, but it now seems that Tony Doherty won’t be making the trip and he could end up being replaced by Gavin Rees. Gavin is itching to return to the ring after losing his world title and it’d be a great opportunity for him.

The sparring is timely because HBO are coming back over next week to film their 24/7 series.

It’ll look good on film – or so I am told! – and they are pretty familiar with the gym now and the area, I don’t think it really affects us anymore, training in front of TV cameras.

I am making no special plans this time around for where I will stay in New York.

In Vegas I was determined to be far away from the famous strip and all those distractions, but it’s less of a concern this time around.

I stayed in an apartment in Nevada for the Hopkins fight, but this time we’ll go for a hotel.

I will probably be in a hotel around Central Park, I like to run there and although I am bigger in America than I once was, I still don’t exactly get mobbed over there!

I love New York, it’s a wonderful city and it should be enjoyable putting the finishing touches to my training out there.

I want to talk about Gwent’s Nathan Cleverly, who fights Tony Oakey in Liverpool tonight for the British light heavyweight title.

As you’ll know, Nathan has left Team Calzaghe for now at least, because of "boxing politics," in his words.

I won’t go into why he’s left, I think people have their own ideas on this, but what I do want to do is wish him the very best of luck.

I haven’t seen Nathan for a few weeks, so I can’t talk about the specifics of his training, but if things have gone well, I fancy him to win a close one tonight.

Oakey is experienced and a good campaigner, I’ve seen plenty of his fights over the years, but on paper Nathan has more about him, is a little bit sharper and a bit quicker.

I would probably expect the fight to go the distance and will tip Nathan to win by a couple of rounds.

That is, if he is at his best. If he boxes like he did in Las Vegas, where he was magnificent, he’ll have no problems.

Good luck Nathan, hope you bring another title back to Wales.

Finally I want to wish Wales all the best in their World Cup qualifying double header against Liechtenstein and Germany.

Hopefully it’ll be at least three points for us, I reckon we will be really boosted by my old mate Craig Bellamy coming back into the fold.

Hopefully Wales can emulate my Premier League team for this season, Hull City.

My girlfriend is a massive Hull fan and I’ve been following their fortunes since the end of last season.

They’re doing amazingly well, winning at Arsenal and Spurs and I can see them finishing mid-table when all is said and done.

I am not so sure about Spurs though. I know one member of the Argus sportsdesk is very worried!