Cardigan ABC results after first home show in seven years

While Cardigan’s Welsh light-heavyweight champion Josh Mellor’s hard-earned victory over the British Army’s Jack Lorja was deservedly judged best bout of the night, it was Glover – making his last ring appearance prior to joining the Royal Navy – who was left on the crest of a wave.

Ceri in action. (Image: Gary Evans (Wicked West Films))

Having only his third bout following a long lay-off, Glover – who had earlier expressed determination to ‘put on a show’ in front of family and friends – proceeded to produce a dazzling display of attacking boxing, while presenting an elusive target to opponent Marcus Richards, of Trelewis.

His performance drew rare plaudits from Cardigan ABC head coach Guy Croft – on his admission, a difficult man to please at the best of times. “Ceri boxed beautifully,” he told the Tivyside.

“Yet at the same time he could have done so much more – everyone’s saying how comfortable he looked in there...yet he shouldn’t have been comfortable: he could and should have taken it to another level!

“That said, we’ll all be sorry to see lose him.”

The boxer himself said he was delighted to be back in action after some time on the sidelines. “I absolutely loved it in there,” he said. “Getting the win is such a great feeling.

“The amount of motivation everyone’s been giving me in the gym has been absolutely insane.”

Glover’s unanimous points triumph was emulated by 24-year-old Mellor in the final bout of the night – even if the winning margin did not tell the full story.

For the 6ft 4in L/Cpl Lorja came to win and pressurised Mellor endlessly, pinning him back on the ropes on several occasions, while weathering the Cardigan man’s heavy-handed attacks.

“I could have won more easily but he was the tallest guy I’ve ever boxed and, going in, I was a bit worried about his height,” Mellor – who memorably entered the ring to the Dafydd Iwan anthem ‘Yma O Hyd’  – candidly admitted afterwards.

 “I feel I did make heavy weather of it tonight, but he was a very awkward opponent.

“That said, fighting in front of a home crowd was amazing – I put the whole experience right up there with winning my Welsh vest.”

One of the most popular victories came from Cardigan’s 30-year-old veteran Billy Myers who rolled back the years with an intelligent display of ring craft to earn a split decision against Byron Waterhouse, of Trelewis.

Josh in action. (Image: Gary Evans (Wicked West Media))

Myers’ win was particularly satisfying for Croft twins Ioan and Garan as the GB international duo had urged him to box and move.

Drawing on all the experience of an amateur career stretching back to 2008, Myers proceeded to follow their instructions to the letter, bamboozling Waterhouse with a series of hit-and-run tactics, while setting and maintaining a high tempo throughout the first two rounds.

Although the Cardigan welterweight faded down the home stretch he had already done enough to establish a winning lead.

Mellor took the win over British Army's Jack Lorja (Image: Gary Evans (Wicked West Films))

Cardigan ABC’s return to Crymych following a seven-year hiatus got off to a flying start when Eglwyswrw schoolgirl Einir Lewis was rewarded for her relentless come-forward aggression with a unanimous points decision over Port Talbot’s Lauren Rees.

And Cardigan’s Dion Jones brought the crowd to their feet with a whirlwind display that led to the stoppage of Towy ABC’s Justin Bissicks in the opening round.

Cris Tomos proved an excellent MC in a show impeccably organised by the Croft family.

Other results: Ieuan Borne (Rhondda) bt Caio Jones (Cardigan) – unan. Morgan Porter (Britton Ferry) bt Dyfan Lewis (Cardigan) – unan. Paige Maddox (Black Country Boxing Academy) bt Aliya Poole (Cardigan) – split. Sonny Calverly (St Josephs, Newport) bt Max Kirkwood (Cardigan) – unan, Jac McEachran (Towy) bt Ronnie Barker (Cardigan) – split. Alex O’Sullivan (Merlins Bridge) bt Jake Weller (Apollos, Cardiff) – unan. Jack Parkinson (Narberth) bt Jack Randalls (Evolution, Wrexham) – unan.