Home Breaking Boxing News Ringside Report from the Rhondda: Wins for Brace, Dixon & Gwynne

Ringside Report from the Rhondda: Wins for Brace, Dixon & Gwynne

DragonsBoxing were ringside in Tylorstown, Rhondda, South Wales, as promoter Sanigar Events put on a ten fight card showcasing some of the best up and coming talent Wales, has to offer. On Saturday, 8th October, it was young Ebbw Vale Bantamweight Ashley Brace who completely stole the show.

Headlining the stacked card was Mountain Ash’ Tony Dixon who was looking to get back to winning ways after a knockout loss last time out. Entering the fight with a record of 7-1, Dixon was up against a slippery customer in 146 fight veteran Kevin McCauley and it turned out to be a slightly scrappy affair but one that did have its moments. Both boxers were more than happy to throw down, should the opportunity arise, although the majority landed on the gloves or arms – the crowd still appreciated the fact both were looking to entertain. Dixon landed the most telling punch of the fight when McCauley complained to the referee about a shot to the back of the head and forgot those sacred words, “Protect yourself at all times” and Dixon pounced with a solid left hook that sent the veteran stumbling back onto the ropes but you don’t get to 146 fights without being able to weather an onslaught. The fight went the full six scheduled rounds with Dixon taking it with ease on the cards and moving onto 8-1 in the process.

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Tony Dixon – Photo credit: DragonsBoxing

Undefeated Ashley Brace, had dismantled all four previous opponents, was now taking a giant step-up in class as she faced former WBC, WBA and IBF women’s champion Galina Koleva Ivanova in a six round contest. This would be the acid test for ‘The Storm’ to see if she could mix it at a higher level – and boy did she prove it!

From the off Brace was light on her feet, popping the jab out and getting in and out of range without getting tagged by the more experienced Ivanova. ‘The Storm’ showed fantastic feet, switch-hitting at will, and, seemingly, just as comfortable boxing southpaw as she was orthodox. She grew more and more into the fight, as the rounds went on, boxing beautifully when needed but also willing to stand her ground and mix it up if that was what was needed; much to the delight of her army of fans who didn’t stop singing her name. As the fight continued Ivanova had her moments – mainly at the start of the rounds where she would come out fast and try to put it on her younger opponent but Brace was able to weather the storms (excuse the pun) and come back once again with the crisper boxing and harder shots. As the final bell went, the Tylorstown leisure centre erupted as it was plainly obvious that their girl had won what turned out to be the fight of the night.

Referee Reece Carter scored the contest 60-55 to Brace.

Ashley Brace may only have had five fights but I’m putting it out there….Wales has a new boxing star! ‘The Storm’ has all the ability and, also, has the grit needed to go as far as she wishes and with the women’s division nowhere near as crowded as the males, Brace could be looking at European and possibly World titles in the not so distant future. A big call, I know, but she just comprehensively outclassed a former 3x world champion in only her fifth pro fight. Saturday night in Tylorstown another Welsh boxing star has been born…..remember the name Ashley ‘Storm’ Brace.

Talented JJ Evans kicked off the show as he looked to make it 3-0 against Yorkshireman Danny Little. Evans looked superb in this fight, hitting Little with ease and making beautiful angles around his opponent that almost left him in a daze eventually taking it on points. Evans has been pinpointed as a potential star of the future and this performance did nothing to dampen those thoughts- Cardiffian Evans looked fantastic.

Next up was Barry’s Jon O’Kelly who was making his professional debut against Latvian Florian Stupits. O’Kelly, understandably, looked slightly nervous and a little tentative in the opening rounds but then found his feet, loosened up and let the shots flow a lot more and looked at home in there. O’Kelly took the fight 40-36 on the cards to get his pro career off and running.

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Jermaine Asare – Photo credit: Dragons Boxing

Pontypridd’s Jermaine Asare, continued to impress as he stopped Hull’s Andy Neylon with some vicious body shots in the 2nd round. Looking more relaxed than I have ever seen him before, Asare never looked in danger and every time he landed on Neylon he hurt him. Dropping Neylon 3 times in the 2nd, referee Reece Carter had seen enough and Asare notched up another win to take him to 5-1.

Asides from Ashley Brace, the other boxer on the card to really impress me was another Tony Borg fighter in Gavin Gwynne. Making only his 2nd appearance as a pro, Gwynne faced somewhat of an unknown entity in Yaddollah Ghasemi, of Iran, who was making his debut.

Gwynne looked slick and sharp as he established his jab early on and took control of the fight. Ghasemi had come to fight and not just collect a paycheck and both fighters threw down in a thrilling 3rd round with Ghasemi picking up a cut to his left eye in the process. Gwynne looked a little special in this fight and took it with 7 seconds left in the 4th round as the referee had seen enough. ‘Double G’ clearly has some natural talent and with Tony Borg nurturing it – Gwynne is certainly one to watch out for.

Also, back to winning ways was Anthony Trow of Aberaman, who took a points win over Wiltshire’s Jacob Lucas in a scrappy encounter with the scorecards reading 40-36 to Trow.

Bridgend’s Ritchie Canning continued his winning streak with a points victory over Steven Backhouse, dropping Backhouse in the 4th round and possibly setting up a future Welsh super lightweight title clash with Kyle Jones; who also took a points decision over Jack Green to remain unbeaten ( 6-0) in what was a tricky encounter for Pontypridd’s Jones, as the well-traveled and tough Green was in no mood to hand over an easy victory and made Jones work for every round.

Middleweight Mason Jones, of Blaenavon, moved on to 2-0 with a comprehensive points win over Paul Cummings who offered very little apart from bags of heart but it was a relatively straightforward victory for Jones.

A cracking night in Tylorstown where the performance of Ashley Brace will live long in the memory.

Read more from David Owen on his website: DragonsBoxing