COLIN JONES MBE STEPS AWAY FROM DAY-TO-DAY ELITE PROGRAMME ROLE
Colin Jones MBE is stepping away from the day-to-day delivery of the Elite Programme, bringing to a close another chapter in one of the most remarkable coaching careers in Welsh sport.
Colin will remain an integral part of Welsh Boxing, moving into a strategic role as Head of Coaching, where his experience and knowledge will continue to support the Head of Performance and help shape the next generation of Welsh boxers and coaches.
A career built on success
Few people have played a greater role in the rise of Welsh Boxing on the international stage.
Across more than 20 years of coaching with Welsh Boxing, Colin has overseen what has been the most successful period in Wales’ history at Senior Major Championship level, helping generations of boxers progress through the Welsh pathway and go on to achieve success on the biggest stages in the sport.
His record speaks for itself.
Colin has been part of five senior Commonwealth Games campaigns, with Welsh Boxing securing a remarkable 22 medals across those Games. His involvement has spanned Delhi 2010, Glasgow 2014, Gold Coast 2018, Birmingham 2022 and Glasgow 2026.
At Birmingham 2022, Colin was part of a Welsh team that produced the most successful Commonwealth Games in the nation’s boxing history. Six medals were won, including gold for Ioan Croft and Rosie Eccles, alongside one silver and three bronze medals.
Those achievements sit alongside an even broader legacy.
Colin has played a key role in developing boxers who have gone on to make history for Wales, including Fred Evans, who won Olympic silver at London 2012 and Lauren Price, who became Wales’ first Olympic boxing gold medallist at Tokyo 2020.
Yet while the medals and major championship successes provide a measure of his impact, those who have worked alongside Colin know that his influence extends far beyond results.
Brian Davies OBE, CEO Sport Wales said,
“Long before Colin Jones became such a pivotal part of Welsh boxing, I sat in awe as a young fan, watching him fight with unmatched grit and no shortage of skill on the world stage. The sheer pride, power, and determination he showed in those historic and unforgettable world title fights not only helped to define him but also demonstrated much of the heart that exists throughout Welsh sport.
He transitioned seamlessly from a world-class individual performer to an equally successful performance coach and, as CEO of Sport Wales, it is a privilege to be able to thank Colin for all that he has accomplished throughout his career. His contribution to our sporting heritage—first as an iconic athlete in the ring and now as a successful international coach – is truly outstanding.
Diolch Colin.”
Adam Park, Welsh Boxing Head of Performance said,
“Working alongside Colin has been the greatest honour of my career. I knew about his achievements before we worked together, but what took me by surprise was the depth of respect people have for him around the world. For someone who has achieved so much, he remains an incredibly humble and kind man.
“His contribution to Welsh Boxing is extraordinary. Twenty-two medals across five senior Commonwealth Games, alongside his part in developing Wales’ first Olympic silver and gold medallists and first World Championship gold medallist, all speak to the quality of his work. Yet Colin is always the first to put the spotlight on the boxers and recognise those who supported them. He understands what it takes to succeed but has never sought the credit for himself.
“I have learnt so much from Colin, and I am deeply grateful that he will remain part of Welsh Boxing as he steps away from the day-to-day delivery of the Elite Programme. His knowledge and experience of the sport will be invaluable in developing our next generation of boxers and coaches.”
Welsh Boxing Chair Jason Harborow also paid tribute to Colin’s contribution to the sport and the impact he has had on generations of people within it.
“Colin has made an enormous contribution to Welsh Boxing, and I want to personally thank him for the commitment, leadership, and passion he has shown over so many years.
He is a true legend of Welsh boxing and an inspiration to so many. His influence and impact reach far beyond the organisation itself — he has touched the lives of countless boxers, coaches, clubs and people across our sport.
I am incredibly proud to call Colin both a friend and a colleague. As he moves into his new role, I am delighted that Welsh Boxing will continue to benefit from his knowledge, experience and, above all, his passion for the sport.
On behalf of the Board and the entire Welsh Boxing family, thank you, Colin, for everything you have given — and continue to give — to Welsh boxing.”
Colin’s contribution has also been recognised across British boxing.
His journey from Olympic boxer to elite coach has seen him become a hugely respected figure within the sport, with his knowledge and expertise extending beyond the Welsh pathway.
Rob McCracken MBE, who has worked with Colin through the GB Boxing programme, said,
“Colin has made an outstanding contribution to British boxing, from representing Great Britain at the 1976 Olympics as a 17-year-old to spending the past 20 years developing boxers within the Welsh pathway.
“He has played an important role in developing Welsh boxers who have gone on to achieve success at the Olympics, including Fred Evans, who won silver at London 2012, and Lauren Price, who became Wales’s first Olympic boxing gold medallist at Tokyo 2020.
“Colin should be very proud of what he has achieved as both a boxer and a coach. I want to thank him for his contribution to the pathway and wish him every success as he moves into his new role.”
From stepping into the ring for Great Britain at the age of 17, to coaching generations of Welsh boxers, to being part of historic Olympic, World Championship and Commonwealth Games success, Colin Jones MBE has left an indelible mark on the sport.
His achievements can be measured in medals. His legacy, however, will be measured in the people he has helped, the coaches he has developed, the boxers he has inspired and the future champions who will carry Welsh boxing forward.
A lasting contribution to Welsh Boxing.
Thank you, Colin.