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Caerphilly Boxing Club is celebrating yet another successful year, which has seen it produce two Welsh titles and host 50 competitive bouts.

Since Plaid Cymru councillor Jon Scriven turned the once disused day centre next to Caerphilly train station into a community boxing club five years ago, it has quickly become one of the busiest clubs in the area, according to Cllr Scriven.

Cllr Scriven went on to say the gym is “packed throughout the week”, and in 2023 alone held 50 competitive fights, a club show, as well as “numerous Fight of the Night accolades”.

The club also celebrated its first Welsh minor champion, Kian Thomas, who boxed superbly according to Cllr Scriven, to lift the title in Cardiff back in May at the age of 12.

Cllr Scriven added: “Kian is a massive talent who is set to add more titles to his collection this coming year.”

Club Fighter of the Year, Trey Richards, also had an “incredible run” Cllr Scriven said, winning all six of his fights.

Richards, soon to join the Royal Marines, was described as someone who “combines his natural ability with a tremendous attitude, a fearless approach to the game, and a desire to work hard to achieve his goals.”

There was success elsewhere too. Brandon Cook, 17, became Caerphilly’s first champion of 2023 when he won the WABA Novice Championship in January, and 15-year-old Kai Vega fought a staggering nine times in one year with big wins in both Wales and England.

Cllr Scriven went on to emphasise that “development is crucial”, and used Callum Andrews and Charlie Thomas as examples of students who have progressed through the years at the club.

He concluded: “2023 was a fantastic year, and 2024 is set to be even busier and more successful as more boys are ready to be carded and will represent the club in the very near future.”