News of Previous Welsh Champions

We are saddened to hear of the loss recently of some of our past Welsh Boxing champions.

Tony Burns, from the Garw Valley, became Senior Featherweight champion in 1964 and boxed for Wales 27 times. He then became a coach within the England ABA structure, coaching for over 45 years and attending 10 Olympic Games. In 2009, he was awarded the MBE for his services to boxing. He was the head coach of Repton ABC, and coached a few Olympic boxers such as John H Stracey, Audley Harrison and Maurice Hope, all of whom went on to box at World championship level.

Albert Davies of Abercynon was another past champion, regularly sparing with Dai Dower. He was also a Councillor for many years, and a past Mayor of Rhondda. 

We have also lost David Jones of Merthyr. He was the 1950 Welsh Featherweight champion and was the Army champion from 1951 to 1953.

We hear that Malcolm Collins passed away quietly at home aged 85. Born and bred in Cardiff, Malcolm was a significant force in amateur boxing in the 50s. He had a staggering 270 fights and held a world record for the most first round KO’s – in the Guinness Book of Records at 31. In 1954, he was selected to represent Wales at the Vancouver Empire Games, aged just 17, winning a silver medal and he went on to represent Wales four years later in 1958 in the Cardiff Games on the same team as the great Howard Winstone. Again, he won silver. In later years, Malcolm worked as a boxing writer for the South Wales Echo and helped out with the Welsh amateur teams travelling all over Europe.

Malcolm Collins in 1958 v Wally Taylor (Australia)