On Monday I went head to head with Mikkel Kessler at the Millennium Stadium, the first time he has seen the venue for our fight on November 3.

I will give my thoughts on that in a moment, but first I want to clear something up.

At Monday's press conference Mogens Palle, Kessler's promoter, claimed that the fight is only going ahead because of Kessler's willingness to fight in Cardiff.

He said that I changed my mind about going to Denmark and that Kessler has shown guts to put it on the line in my hometown.

I want to make it absolutely clear that while I respect Kessler's guts for coming over here, I was willing to go to Denmark if the deal was right.

I have beaten Mario Veit in his native Germany in the past and also knocked out Will McIntyre in Denmark, traveling doesn't bother me and neither does having a large crowd against me.

In fact, initially I said to Frank Warren (my promoter), "let's just do it, let's go to Denmark if that is what it takes to get the fight made."

We got a great offer to go over there but then it seemed like Kessler's people couldn't back up their offer, and Frank could by putting it on in Cardiff.

I am certainly not complaining, because who wouldn't want to work at home if they had the choice?

I am still incredibly proud of the fact that over 30,000 came to watch me beat Peter Manfredo last time out, and if you remember, I expected that to be my last fight in Wales.

Now this fight is on and the attendance could be frightening, what was talked about on Monday was incredible.

More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold and Frank is targeting the indoor boxing world record attendance of 63,500, achieved when Muhammad Ali fought Leon Spinks at the Louisiana Astrodome in 1978.

To be even linked to a record involving the great Ali is fantastic and it would be wonderful if we had 60,000 or more, I can't even imagine what the atmosphere would be like.

It is a credit to the rest of the Calzaghe stable that there is plenty other than my fight to get the Welsh public interested.

This is a golden age for Welsh boxing and clearly fight fans are recognizing that fact.

Overall, I was fairly impressed with Kessler in the time I spent with him.

He's thoughtful and careful in picking his words; he doesn't just blurt things out like Floyd Mayweather does.

Apparently the American press enjoyed us bantering, they are used to staged scuffles and deliberate controversy at their press conferences, I find it all a bit naff to be honest.

However, obviously Kessler and I disagree on a lot of things!

He keeps telling people he has the edge over me because he is hungrier, has more desire, more fire in his belly. I suppose I see where he is coming from.

I am 35-years-old and coming towards the end of my career, Kessler is also undefeated and he is 28-years old.

He may think my time has gone and that he can exploit my fading desire, but he's in for a big surprise!

I have never been this focused and determined in my whole career.

Make no mistake about it; this is a much tougher fight than Jeff Lacy and I want to put on my greatest ever display.

I want people to remember this fight forever; my training is on another level.

I am fighting a legitimate world champion and I need him as much as he needs me, that isn't always the case.

I have said it time and time again, the better the opponent the better I perform.

I am a warrior and will be 110% motivated; I will be in unbelievable shape.

I am also delighted to hear him say I can't hurt him and have no power, that's music to my ears!

So many fighters have said the same thing about me over the years.

However, maybe I should point out that of my 43 wins, 32 have come by way of knockout.

That is a lot of stoppages for a man who can't punch!

I love it when fighters tell everyone all about my weaknesses.

www.calzaghe.co.uk