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Four Gwent boxers helped the Welsh team to probably one of their most successful weekends in amateur boxing when the team of 13 won four gold medals, seven silver and one bronze medal.

The team were also the top country in the Pyyninnki Cup in Finland over the Easter weekend with the countries competing including Russia, Sweden, Lithuania, Finland and England.

Leon Goodman from St Josephs, who annexed a silver medal in Denmark a week earlier, made doubly sure that he would annex a gold medal this time when he won all three of his bouts by unanimous points verdict and the Welsh national coach Tony Williams said that Goodman, who was 16 years old on the day after returning home, gave an excellent display of boxing in all three of his bouts in just three days, all by unanimous points verdict.

Becky Price of Cwmcarn won Wales' first ever ladies gold medal in a big multi-nation when winning her two bouts in under 24 hours. Becky took on Katri Varonen in her semi-final and although the likable Cwmcarn boxer won by a unanimous verdict, she did appear to have an huge task in the final.

But any worries were soon dispelled when she faced the highly rated and hugely experienced Finnish boxer Ann Marie Woorinenfin.

As Price took the fight to her from the beginning, she easily took the first round with her clever counter punching.

And although she let her opponent come back into the bout in the second round, a telling off in the corner from Williams saw her get back to her boxing and she was very a comfortable winner much to the delight of the whole Welsh squad.

Ashley Brace of Heads of The Valley, who only celebrated her 17th birthday at the beginning of the month, gave an outstanding display to beat Kresi Kahila of Finland in her semi-final to shock the locals who were surprised that the baby faced youngster was taking on senior boxers being so young and in-experienced but she really hammered he opponent with two fisted attacks throughout all three rounds to take the nod of all five judges. But in her final she lost by a close but fair verdict in the final against Kati Collanden who was just too mature and experienced for the Ebbw Vale girl, but this augurs well for the future because the Brace certainly showed that she has a lot of talent.

Rhys (Chucky) Evans of Church Place won his first bout by a three-two majority point verdict but in the final he could never really get going and he lost by a three-two verdict to local boxer Olari Hugent to claim a silver medal.

Former British, Commonwealth and European professional champion Colin Jones, who is the assistant national coach, is doing a film show and a question and answer show in aid of the Pontypool Amateur Boxing Club on Friday, April 4 at Pontypool United Rugby Club. It will feature several of his fights including his three world title contests and he will also tells some stories from his boxing days.

Jones has been doing shows all around Wales to make money for local boxing clubs.

Tickets are available from Mark James 01495 755968 or Sharky' 07773 428532. Doors open at 7pm.

10:47pm Thursday 27th March 2008

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