TRAINER Gavin Rees is convinced unbeaten super-middleweight Kody Davies has the potential to become a world champion.

Rees, who won the WBA super-lightweight crown in 2007, is one of a dozen Welsh fighters to go right to the top and land a global title.

Four of those 12, including Rees, are sons of Gwent – Joe Calzaghe, Robbie Regan and Nathan Cleverly being the others – and Davies’ coach believes his charge can be number five.

The 24-year-old from Pontllanfraith is closing in on a first championship fight in the paid ranks following his ninth straight victory in Leeds last weekend.

There are hopes in the Davies camp that his big chance could come before the year is out, with Rees feeling a crack at the Lonsdale Belt may be a possibility.

“We’re looking to get Kody out again by the end of August and a win then will take him to 10-0,” said Rees, 39.

“I think he’ll be ready to go for a Commonwealth or continental title, or even a British title – we’ll push for one of those.

“The only thing with the British is that at super-middleweight, the top five or six in the country are at world level and don’t really want to box for the Lonsdale Belt.

“But I would say that if Kody was to face any of those guys then they would be very winnable fights.

“Kody could look to win the British outright, which is something I didn’t do and when I look back now it’s something I regret not doing.”

When asked if Davies had the potential to do what he did and win a world title, he continued: “He can definitely be a world champion, 100 per cent.

“He was sparring George Groves before he’d even had one professional fight, and George said after that Kody was one of the best he had sparred.

“When world champions are saying things like that about you, and guys like Callum Smith and Chris Eubank Jnr want to spar with you, it means something.

“Kody is still young and he has got a lot to learn, so there is no rush at the moment, but he’s definitely going to go a long way.”

Davies was backed by a travelling support of around 60 relatives and friends for his points victory over Harry Matthews last Saturday.

It was his first outing in nine months and first since the death of sister Jade-Louise in January, and he admits the occasion was more emotional than he had expected.

He said: “Obviously it was a massive difference not having my sister there, but all my family travelled up to see me fight.

“A lot of my friends also made the effort to go up and I’m really grateful to them because it’s five hours there and back.

“Not having Jade there meant it was unlike anything I’d experienced before. It was more emotional than I thought it would be.

“I felt sharp in the changing rooms, put my T-shirt on, and that’s when it hit home.”