In terms of competitive achievement, one person stands head and shoulders above anyone else as the sportsman of 2006.

Not Darren Clarke, who was brilliant in golf's Ryder Cup in the face of domestic tragedy; not David Walliams, the comedian who defied his public perception by swimming the English Channel; and not Monty Panesar, who span his way to become the new golden boy of English cricket.

The outstanding sportsman of 2006 was boxer Joe Calzaghe, certainly Britain's best fighter of the modern era and yet someone who could walk down Oxford Street virtually unrecognised while lesser talents from the past such as Chris Eubank and Prince Naseem Hamed would draw stares and autograph hunters.

In statistical terms alone, Calzaghe's two world title fights in 2006 have put him in a different class.

He has now defended his world super middleweight title successfully no less than 19 times; he is the longest-reigning current world champion - he has held the WBO title since 1997 - and yet recognition continues to be elusive outside the circle of boxing aficionados.

But apart from statistics, 2006 was different for Calzaghe because this was the year he really proved himself to be the best in the world.

After enduring many frustrations at failing to land major opponents, finally the IBF champion Jeff Lacy arrived at the Manchester Arena in March for a unification fight against the 34-year-old Welshman.

Lacy, an American, had been heavily hyped as the man who would put Calzaghe in his place.

As it turned out, Calzaghe responded with arguably the best performance ever by a British fighter in the ring. He won every minute of every round and Lacy simply had no answer to his technique and his power.

When he came to defend his title again in October against Sakio Bika of Cameroon, Calzaghe himself admitted he was disappointed with his performance.

Yet he showed that he could still win on an off-day against a hugely awkward opponent.

Yet Calzaghe himself knows better that to expect recognition - and has made it very clear he had no expectations of any tributes coming his way.

He said: "As a nation, it looks like you haven't got to be a winner to be a personality.

"The football team loses, the cricket team loses. Listen, I'm a winner, I'm a champion.

"I don't need no award or recognition, I'm proud of my achievements.

"I'm the longest reigning world champion in Britain.

"I'm happy in my own ability. My name will live on. Full stop. Look in the record books. And it's not finished yet.''

Other sportsmen became British world champions in 2006, including Tim Don in triathlon and cyclist Chris Hoy in the kilometre.

No one, though, came close to matching the fabulous year of Joe Calzaghe.