WELSH boxing has considerable cause for optimism in 2025 as its triumvirate of World Under 19 medallists gatecrash senior competition and zone in on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
Heading the charge, comes Dan Pitt who became Wales’ first ever male world champion by topping the podium in the 85kgs category at the Colorado, USA meet.
The Dave Gilbert coached 18-year-old from the Brecon Phoenix ABC juggles boxing with an undergraduate sport science course in at Cardiff Met University.
During his five years as a competitor, Pitt has proved a near unstoppable force; his solitary setback in 22 starts was an inconclusive injury stoppage (nose bleed) to Chichester’s Connor McCormack in a 2022 Tri Nations semi.
“I’ve been into fitness since a young age. I started boxing training at 13 to assist my rugby but soon dropped the rugby. I made the Welsh Development Squad at 16,” says dashing Dan who has also hoovered up four Welsh titles, two Tri Nations plus a bucket load of international gold medals.
“If I can choose, I prefer to counterpunch. I’m an awkward southpaw with very good movement which helps me land the back hand. My biggest strength is I hate losing so I’m prepared to go 100mph, non-stop, till the last bell. My fights can become scrappy because I try so hard.”
Pitt’s coronation in Colorado saw him join Lauren Price as only the second Welsh amateur world champion in history.
“I’m always realistic with my goals but I was definitely confident going in because, in February, I’d beaten a very good Ukrainian who’s now European champion,” says Pitt.
“The Indian in my semi proved my toughest opponent. He was an Asian medallist, a much taller lad coming down from 92 (kgs) so I had to get close and put it on him. There was only one point in it. In the gold medal bout, the Kazakh had fast hands but flat feet. I could use my boxing better.”
A serious talent, the Powys puncher will be hoping to extend his momentum as he is unleashed into senior competition in the New Year.
“It was a major confidence booster, going into future competitions but it also puts a huge target on my back,” he warns.
“Since September, I’ve been promoted to the Welsh Elite Team, coached by Colin Jones. From January, I’ll be fighting men not boys, no headguards. I’d love to work towards representing Wales at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“Hopefully, the world title brings me under the Team GB radar. I’ve not heard yet but definitely want to be associated. The pinnacle would obviously be if boxing remains at the 2028 Olympics.”
Riding on Pitt’s wings are 65kgs Milwyn Lloyd and 55kgs Mikey O’Sullivan who both bagged bronze in Pueblo.
Between them, the teenage terrors split over 120 contests, having embraced the sport as primary schoolboys. Both had snared multiple Welsh and Tri Nations titles plus experience and hardware at multi-nation meets in Romania, Lithuania, Hungary and Spain earlier in 2024.
“I started at nine. Before I was doing gymnastics but Dad didn’t approve. For him, it had to be either rugby or boxing,” says classy, clean scoring counterpuncher Lloyd who is coached by Mark Lewis at the Llay ABC, near Wrexham.
“I’ve a 60-40 win-loss ratio. Starting out, I boxed more for experience, less for wins but, about 18 months ago, I got noticed by the Welsh set-up following a split decision loss to Danny Thomas in the National final.”
Squad mate O’Sullivan, a heavy-handed pressure fighter, rode a similar route: “Around 10, my old man said I was spending too much time on the computer so took me to the Cardigan [ABC] gym where I was coached by Kevin O’Sullivan and Guy Croft, father of the twins [2022 European and Commonwealth Games medallists Ioan and Garan].
“I’ve been on the Welsh Development set-up since 13 and over half of my 64 bouts have been in a Wales singlet.”
For both, returning with a medal was an expectation rather than a forlorn pipedream.
“I definitely thought I could win gold because I’d already defeated several good fighters,” claims Lloyd.
“Because of the altitude, it was very different to boxing at home. I stopped my first opponent, an Indian in the opening round but by round three of the semi, the air certainly appeared a lot heavier. The Australian was a good boxer who refused to come out of his shell. I used the wrong strategy. On another day, I’d have gone for him.
“Moving forward, I hope to continue to win international tournaments, make it onto Team GB and turn the heads of a few professional promoters by winning the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.”
Mikey was also required to win twice to scale the medal rostrum.
“I’ve got belief in myself so was confident I could bring back a medal, possibly return as champion,” says the West Walian.
“But after wins against Kyrgyzstan and Canada, I lost a split against Japan, a slick, sharp southpaw. He was a rightful winner.
“My goals now are to break onto the GB Podium squad and represent Wales at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, I’ll be 20 by then so will be looking to win them.”
In other amateur boxing news…
IT’S A CRACKER
Laing tops Jones north of the border
MACTAGGART Scott Boxing Club welcomed home Scottish Youth Golden Gloves champion Dylan Jones on their ‘Christmas Crackers’ show at Loanhead Miners Club – and Jimmy Laing spoiled the occasion by beating him unanimously in the top-of-the-bill bout.
It was a quality match up.
Laing (Granite City) had won Scottish honours at 67kgs in 2023 before losing the 71kgs final the following year.
Laing was a bit too strong over 3x3s and deserved the decision.
The boxers were straight down to business at the opening bell, trading hooks. Laing made the first real breakthrough with a left hook to the chin that knocked Jones onto his heels.
Jones looked to keep it long and had his supporters cheering with a long right, but Laing kept finding his chin with left hooks.
Laing looked to have the heavier hands.
Jones looked to crowd Laing and outwork him in the second. Laing kept his defences tight, picked hard singles in between Dylan’s punches and then put together a burst of solid, accurate punches.
The referee might have given Jones a count, but he used his feet to get out of danger.
Jones knew he was behind going into the last and let his hands go furiously at the start of the round.
Laing stayed tucked up, got his feet moving and jabbed hard to edge the final three minutes as well and make sure of the unanimous points vote.
