I HAD a truly memorable and inspiring day yesterday, rising at the crack of dawn to head to Surrey to meet some very special people.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love to meet new people and yesterday was pretty incredible as I dropped into Headley Court in Epsom to meet some of our wounded soldiers, sorry to use a cliché, but for my money these are the real British heroes.

We had a tour around the facility and met a lot of different patients, including several soldiers who have just returned from Afghanistan.

Patients at the rehabilitation centre have various injuries, but we did meet some guys who unfortunately have lost limbs in the line of duty.

Incredibly, over 90% of soldiers who do lose a limb are desperate to continue in the Armed Forces, it really is a testament to their courage and bravery and it puts everything into perspective.

I went there to donate a Counter-Punch machine, the brilliant piece of equipment that we have in the Team Calzaghe gym that tallies up the number of punches you can throw in any given time, designed by my good mate Kevin Davies (although obviously we developed it together, me providing the boxing perspective).

We decided it would be perfect to help the wounded soldiers, we’d seen items on the news about their rehab and wanted to help out.

Hopefully, it will aid the guys in their rehabilitation.

It was fantastic to see the British Army Boxing Team there as well, I wouldn’t fancy stepping into the ring with some of them!

To see how positive the wounded soldiers remain, how dedicated they are to leading the best quality of life they can was truly inspiring.

It makes me laugh that footballers, boxers, any sportsman really, get held in such high regard, but it’s these guys who are the real role models.

It’s been a somewhat surreal week for me I guess, my first now that I am officially retired, a boxing relic, an old man!

I have to say I am thoroughly enjoying it.

Nothing has massively changed in my life, other than the fact if I don’t fancy a 5am road run, I can roll over and go back to sleep!

I am still training, I have often written in this column that I am not good at being a couch potato and at the moment our gym is absolutely buzzing so I’ve been getting involved.

Enzo Maccarinelli and Bradley Pryce are both training for appearances in Manchester on March 14 and of course Kerry Hope is getting into the shape of his life as he prepares to headline the first Calzaghe Promo-tions show, more on this later.

So I am remaining in good shape and splitting my time between the gym, media work and charity stuff.

I truly left the sport of boxing exactly as I wanted to, no one can take away from me the fact that I have retired as an undefeated fighter.

This isn’t a rash, Floyd Mayweather-style retirement, it was on my mind for the past 18 months, although some people close to me would argue I’ve been talking about retiring for a lot longer than that.

I left on my terms, not noticeably damaged from the ring and with financial security for my family who I can now spend more time with. What more could anyone hope for?

I know some people are already tipping that in six months time I will get bored and want to return to boxing and I won’t say that is impossible, because this isn’t Back to the Future, I don’t drive a flying Delorean and I can’t see into the future.

But I would rate it in the highly unlikely category.

As I explained in this column last week, in my mind there is no one out there left for me to fight and I don’t see that being any different six months or a year from now.

I think you might have to note me down as an exception to the rule, a fighter who retires… and stays retired!

I would love to give our show in Merthyr at the Rhydycar Leisure Centre a plug, as I am hopeful we will see as many of you as possible coming out to support Welsh boxing.

The action kicks-off next Saturday night, February 21, and it should be a terrific night of sport in the Principality.

My stablemate Kerry Hope is headlining the bill and his fight against fellow Welshman Taz Jones seems to be becoming more and more of a grudge match by the second.

My old mates Jamie Arthur and Paul Samuels are also on board to show their support and we’ll showcase someone who I believe can be a real prospect, Jamie Todd.

It’s only the start of things for us, dad is utterly determined to put Welsh boxing back on the map and when he sets his mind to something, he usually achieves his aim.

Tickets are still available although they are selling fast. They are priced £40, £50 and ringside seats are £60 and can be purchased from Kerry Hope on 07853 109156 or the centre on 01685 727476.

I hope to see plenty of you there.