Wales, a small country, has skilled fighters who compete at the highest level. Many names paved the way for today’s Welsh boxing stars.
Welsh Boxing: The Champion Joe Cordina
The boxer from Cardiff is unbeaten and very successful. He is the most successful Welsh boxer currently active. He has a professional record of 17-0 and is a former IBF title holder. In 2016, Joe Cordina went to the Rio Olympics as an amateur. A year later, he made his professional debut against Jose Aguilar. He became one of the most successful Welshmen ever to lace up a pair of gloves. In 2021, Cordina knocked out former champion Kenichi Ogawa in front of a home crowd. It set the boxing world on fire at the Cardiff International Arena in June. The Welshman has proven he can knock out his opponents, as he has done so in nine fights.
The Welsh Boxing Legend Joe Calzaghe
Joe Calzaghe is not just a Welsh boxing legend but a boxing legend in general. Like Cordina, he remained undefeated, with a record of 46-0 and 32 knockouts. The fighter from Newbridge turned pro in 1993 and is in the International Boxing Hall of Fame. The Italian Dragon beat many famous boxers. Boxers like Chris Eubank, Bernard Hopkins, and Roy Jones Jr. He competed in two weight classes. Those classes were super-middleweight and light-heavyweight. He is a former undisputed super-middleweight champion and a Ring Magazine light-heavyweight champion. Getting one belt, let alone becoming an undisputed champion, is challenging. Calzaghe is one of the greatest athletes in Wales. The evidence for this is his BBC and Wales Sports Personality of the Year trophies.
Percy Jones
Percy Jones, the first Welsh world champion, competed over a century ago. Jones laid the foundation for boxing success in Wales. He was from Porth in the Rhondda Valley. He competed in the flyweight division, which weighed around eight stone. Jones had a short career. It was due to him serving in World War One. He served as a sergeant in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and his service cost him his leg and,his fighting career. Jones lost his leg after 30 operations, which gives you an idea of how bad the injury was. The fighter from Porth passed away at 30, cutting a fantastic life short. He left a great legacy in boxing, and his legacy will live on forever.
The Future Lauren Price
People consider Lauren Price the future of Welsh boxing. There has been much hype around her since she turned professional in April 2022. She has had many fights since turning pro and has been victorious in each one. There were a lot of expectations for Price’s pro debut. It was due to her impeccable ammeter career. Price had a lot of success in the ammeter ranks. The evidence for this is her winning gold in the European, Commonwealth, and Olympic games. She has done a lot for the sport, which resulted in her MBE. Women’s boxing is as popular as ever, and there is no reason Price can’t be at the forefront of the sport shortly.
Jimmy Wilde
Jimmy Wilde debuted over a century ago and enjoyed a lot of success in a boxing ring. Nicknamed the ‘Mighty Atom,’ Wilde was born in Taylorstown in 1892 and worked as a miner. He dominated the domestic scene in the UK, becoming the British champion. Wilde also won a world title. After he served in the army during the war, he went on a 12-fight tour in America. Wilde retired at age 29 and passed away in 1969 at 76.
Wales has had many great fighters and a rich history of success in the sport. Some competitors continue to build on the country’s legacy and promote its heritage.
