A young Caerphilly boxing champion has been given the opportunity to meet some of his boxing heroes in recognition of his sporting skills and his attitude to adversity.
Rhys Warren, 14, from Heol Fawr, Nelson, has spent the last year fighting and training hard while also supporting his 40-year-old father Mike who is recovering from an organ transplant.
As a reward for his efforts he is being taken on a VIP night out at the upcoming WBC Night of Champions at the Cardiff International Arena by event sponsor Venture Wales.
Rhys currently holds the Welsh Championship title and is the Bronze British Champion in his weight and age class.
After being picked on in school, Rhys took up boxing to help grow his confidence. He now trains seven days a week in order to maintain his fitness and to fine tune his sparring skills. Other boxers are lining up to fight him and currently eight people are on a waiting list to get into the boxing ring with Rhys.
Just over a year ago his father Mike, who travels the country to support Rhys on the boxing circuit, received one of Wales’ first pancreas transplants and is on the road to recovery. During this time Mike has worked closely with Venture Wales to start up his electrical contracting business Able2Cable.
Venture Wales supports small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) throughout Wales and has been helping entrepreneurs grow their businesses for over two decades.
Jill Goring a regional manager from Venture Wales said: “Both Rhys and Mike have a remarkable strength of spirit and ability to bounce back in the face of adversity. Through working with Mike during his illness and recovery we’ve gotten to know Rhys who has the potential to be once of Wales’ future boxing stars.
“Rhys’ preparation and determination in the boxing ring could make him the next Joe Calzaghe. Starting a small business takes determination, ambition and careful planning, all traits that Rhys has shown both in his young boxing career and in the support he has provided to his father during his illness.”
Mr Warren said: “Rhys has been a real inspiration to me throughout my organ transplant. Rhys has had to be strong and work hard in order to achieve success in boxing and seeing him has helped me to do the same. If he works hard, I work hard.”
Rhys and Mike will attend the WBC Night of Champions at the Cardiff International Arena with several friends. Following the boxing tournament they will go backstage to meet some of the boxing stars headlining the event.
Rhys said: “Both boxing and my Dad mean the world to me. I can’t wait to watch the tournament and meet some boxing legends but to be able to share the whole night with my Dad will make it extra special. It will be a night that I’ll remember for a long time.”