Welsh Boxing Awards 2023 recognise invaluable work within the community
Saturday 14 October saw the Sport Wales National Centre host the Welsh Boxing Awards 2023, where we recognised the vital, selfless contributions that so many give within our community.
Without the commitment and time put in by those nominated for our six award categories, and so many more across our four divisions, we’d miss out on so much of the good that amateur boxing provides to local communities.
The first award honoured Services to R&Js, for which Gordon Davies and eventual winner Tony Wynne were nominated.
Tony, who has been a member of Welsh Boxing for seven decades, received the award for his various officiating and coaching roles and his impact on the community.
Llanrumney Phoenix ABC received the Community Initiative Award, for which Chris McEwen and Pembroke ABC, and St Michael’s ABC were also nominated.
Llanrumney Phoenix ABC have been utilising the power of boxing to help some of Cardiff’s most vulnerable with their Fighting Homelessness Project for five years now.
The award for Under-18s Coach of the Year was awarded to Gavin Rees, Pantside ABC. Angelo Dragone, Stallion ABV, and Lee Rodgers, Welsh Warriors ABC, were also nominated for their work.
Over-18s Coach of the Year went to Guy Croft, Cardigan ABC, who was not able to attend on the day so was accepted by Colin Metson, Welsh Boxing CEO. There was a strong field with the short-list between four, not the expected three due to the calibre of the nominations. Also short-listed were Brett Parry, Maerdy ABC; Josie Lewis, Caerau Dragons ABC; and Pappy Jones, Briton Ferry ABC.
Guy’s Cardigan ABC, despite its humble size, has punched well above its weight in the competitive ring, while Gavin, Pantside ABC, has been central to supporting numerous children through his dedication to helping their physical and mental wellbeing.
Premier ABC, Llandudno ABC, and St Joseph’s East ABC were all nominated for the Club of the Year Award, with the latter picking up the accolade.
The club is a shining example of organisation and atmosphere, with coaches ensuring that each individual boxer is looked after to the highest of standards, while also maintaining that ‘family feel’.
The Club Volunteer Award was picked up by Mathew Robinson, Pontyclun ABC; with Carl Pesticcio, Prince of Wales ABC; and Keith Jeffries, Cwmbran ABC, also nominated.
Mathew is pivotal in instilling confidence into those who train under him, and has done so much to ensure that the gym is a welcoming and comfortable environment for all to enjoy.
There was one last award handed out on the day, with Tony Wynne further recognised for his long-standing contribution to boxing in Wales. He was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award.
From featherweight champion of Wales in his competitor days, to officiating at two Commonwealth Games’; from being Team Manager for Welsh Boxing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and for the World Championships in Kazakhstan in 2014, to attending countless tournaments and training camps in Wales and across the globe to officiate as a referee and judge – Tony has been a well-known and impactful individual within our sport.
Welsh Boxing was thrilled to be able to present the award to him.
Alongside the awards, we also saw some fantastic boxing between Wales and Scotland, with the Welsh running out 4-2 winners overall.
This followed on from the previous night, when Welsh Boxing hosted a dinner show at the National Centre, where our boxers overcame the Scottish 8-2 overall.
It was a fantastic weekend for boxing in Wales, where we were proud to recognise such truly vital, selfless, and commendable work among the community while enjoying the talent we have to boast as a nation.