From Holyhead to Swansea and Newport to Chester, over the past few weeks I’ve embarked on a mini boxing tour of Wales! A fact finding mission really; to not only meet the people at the heart of the sport in Wales but to also introduce myself and the plans for boxing going forward.
Visits to Premier ABC, followed by St Joseph’s ABC in Newport and Splott ABC and then on to Deva near Chester and Red Dragon ABC in Holyhead, where it was great to see so many boxers training on cold and wet winter nights, have given me a real flavour of the picture of us as a boxing nation. I’m looking forward to taking up the invitations of clubs in Cardigan and Chepstow to expand on that by the end of the month.
The main focus for me over the next few months will be to develop the Performance Plan for WABA. This in essence will look at how we intend to work with our most talented boxers and coaches over the next two to four years with an overall aim of delivering success at the Commonwealth Games, other major competitions and contributing boxers to the GB Olympic Programme.
Alongside that it is essential for us to have a clear handle on which boxers we need to be supporting and working with; those that could potentially be medallists and/or representing Wales at the highest level. Nominations have been put forward from each division and I’m grateful for the inside knowledge from those that have communicated those names. We can now get that ball rolling.
It would be remiss of me not to mention the fantastic performances from our ladies at the Women’s European Championships. Two medals, a silver from Lynsey Holdaway (48kg – Llantrisant) and bronze from Lauren Price (69kg – Gelligaer), from four boxers is a great achievement. Charlene Jones (64kg – Merlin’s Bridge) and Becky Price (57kg – Cwmcarn) also did us proud , so a big congratulations goes to all four boxers and their coaches.
The next few days it will be the turn of our male boxers to take to the ring. Five Welshmen will travel to York Hall in London to compete in the GB Championships: The best of luck to:
Ben Baker (Cardigan ABC)
Sean Mcgoldrick (St Josephs ABC)
Joe Cordina (St Josephs ABC)
Mano Lee (Bonymaen ABC)
Lloyd Davies (Mountain Ash ABC)
And of course, I’m sure you’ll all join me in wishing Andrew Selby the best of luck for his box-off against fellow GB boxer Khalid Yafai at the weekend – let’s hope he can secure a second Welsh Olympic qualifying spot for boxing.
James Thomas, WABA Performance Director
Welsh Amateur Boxing Association 
james when are the 92boxers coming to cardiff.keith cwmbran abc.
if you are in cwmbran we the club is open 6pm till 8.45.
Hi Keith,
good to hear from you. Thank you very much for the offer to come over to Cwmbran ABC, I will look at my diary for January and February, what nights does the club train on? With regard to the 92 boxers, I wonder if you are referring to the AIBA ‘Road to London’ training camp? If so, I believe a group of 50 boxers will be coming to the first camp in February 2012 and then a larger group in June/July 2012.
Best regards,
James