James Probert has just returned from an 11-day trek to St Petersburg in Russia with a bronze medal from the World Junior Boxing Championships to complete an impressive haul from all the junior boxing championships in 2015.
Not only is the talented teenager from Pembroke Amateur Boxing Club now ranked third in the world for his age group but has gold medals at the Welsh and British Finals, whilst his silver in Russia fits very nicely in his trophy cabinet alongside his bronze in the European Championships in Lithuania, plus a range of successes in international events as he proudly wears his red Welsh vest with the three feathers on!
New record sent and praise from coach Colin
James' success makes him the first Welsh boxer ever to win a medal at a World Junior Championships and that result is all the more remarkable because he competes in a section for junior boys born in 1999 and 2000 - and since he was born in the latter year he was taking on older boxers - and can still return in the same class next year!
Small wonder then that head coach Colin Jones, himself a world-ranked professional boxer who missed out by a whisker on a world title in his heyday, was very impressed and praised his protégée for his total commitment and high skill levels.
Only success in four-man team
James was part of a four-man team alongside John-Paul Wilson, Rhys Ellis and Connor Jones, who sadly was unable to compete after sustaining an injury in training, and in the week-long championships he got off to a flying start as he beat a Japanese boxer on the very first day.
Amongst his other successes were victories over a very tough Armenian (who had a bye in the first round so was fresh when he took on James) and after battling his way into the last four James lost narrowly to the champion of the USA.
Proud parents and Pembroke ABC coach Andy
Small wonder that leading the support for the Welsh team were his proud parents Rachel and Nathan, who coaches at Pembroke ABC alongside Andy Edmondson, who told us how proud he was of James' performances this year, which culminated in this latest medal.
"James sets the tone for all at the club,” Andy told us, “because he never misses a training session, gives 100% in all he does, listens to advice about improving technique, as well as showing immense pride in representing his club, Pembrokeshire and Wales."
Rachel and Nathan were in attendance throughout the championships and on this occasion were allowed to stay in the same complex as the boxers.
"James was superb," said Nathan, who rarely heaps praise on his son," and we are immensely proud of what he has achieved in boxing.
"He loves what he is doing and we never have to push him because he is proud, like us, to be from Pembrokeshire.
“He still has room for improvement and next season will see him that little stronger, experienced and street-wise in the ring.”