FORMER world champion turned trainer Gavin Rees has high hopes for Kody Davies in boxing’s paid code – and he reckons the Pontllanfraith puncher’s professional debut “went perfectly”.

Light-heavyweight Davies, 23, made a big impact at Swansea’s LC last Saturday, flooring Latvian Andrejs Tolstihs four times en route to an impressive second-round stoppage.

The contest was Davies’ first since switching from the amateur ranks earlier this year, and Rees says his charge will be in action again before Christmas.

Assessing the former GB Boxing squad member’s explosive victory, Rees said: “It went perfectly.

“He was a bit nervous beforehand but it was a great debut after all the work he’s been doing with me in the gym over the last six months.

“I was impressed with the way he dominated the fight, his speed and power have all improved and that showed.

“People saw his speed on Saturday, it’s phenomenal, and I haven’t heard one person say a bad word about his performance.

“He only stopped three or four opponents in the amateurs so it was good to see him get a stoppage in his first professional fight.

“He’s lost quite a bit of weight since the amateurs but he showed that hasn’t affected his punching power.

“It doesn’t get much better for a pro debut, and he also sold about 200 tickets, which is great for a first professional fight.”

When asked how far Davies can go in the pro game, Rees added: “It’s hard to say at this stage, I would hope at least British and European level.

“Any further than that would be a bonus.

“I’ve only been working with him for six months but he has already improved an unbelievable amount – imagine how good he will be in another six months.

“I definitely have high hopes for Kody.”

He continued: “Even before he made his pro debut we got a call for him to go and spar with George Groves, so that’s a world champion asking for his help ahead of a big fight.

“We’ve also been to Scotland and Manchester to spar with some of the top boys and Kody didn’t look out of place.”

Davies, managed by Cwmbran’s Gary Lockett, had Rees in his corner for the first time back in March.

And, as 37-year-old Rees, WBA world super- lightweight king in 2007, explains, linking up with Davies happened purely by chance.

“Back in March I was at the semi-finals of the Welsh Championships with one of my amateurs,” he said.

“Kody’s dad Kevin was training him then but his licence had run out and he wasn’t allowed to be in his son’s corner.

“Kevin asked me if I could go in Kody’s corner for his semi-final and that’s how it started.

“Kody won the Welsh title and then came down my gym to do some training, and it went from there.

“He had been in the GB Boxing set-up and they offered him the chance to stay for another four years.

“But Kody wanted to turn pro and if he had stayed in Sheffield he would have been 27 or 28 before going professional.

“I would have wanted him to be at British or European level at that stage.”

Rees instigated Davies’ drop from cruiserweight to light-heavyweight and the latter hasn’t looked back.