David Round is a quiet, unassuming young feller in everyday life but readily admits that he enjoys nothing better than a good scrap so that is why he has been involved for a number of years in kick boxing, cage fighting and now professional and bare-knuckle boxing alongside playing rugby in the back row for both Milford Haven and Neyland.
 
In his time in the various rings his injuries include a broken arm (in October), stitches too numerous to count above and below his eye - and a CT scan which revealed that there were nine different, and previously undiagnosed fractures, to his long-suffering nose!
 

No regrets in a remarkable record

 
But if you were to ask David, who is known to his pals as ‘Square’ (for obvious reasons!) if he had any regrets he would say that he wouldn't have missed a single moment of his time so far in action, especially with regard to the cage fighting, which he started in 2009,where his record includes 22 wins from 42 starts.
 
"It is amazingly tough as a sport and the adrenalin runs high once they close the cage doors and the crowd start baying for blood," admitted David, "and submissions through choke holds, arm and leg locks, are common-place alongside knock-outs.”
 
What is quite remarkable is when one considers he is of only one two fighters, along with US legend Dan Henderson, who have competed in five different weight classes, starting out at lightweight (155lbs), welterweight  (170lbs), middleweight (185lbs), light heavyweight (205lbs) and heavyweight (220lbs).
 
"I'm known as a fighter who is able to add or take off weight fairly easily and I can still vividly remember my first fight in Exeter against a Royal Marine named Luke Street, which I won in only 56 seconds as I managed to slam him to the floor and he accidentally dislocated his elbow.
 

Great memories of world-wide battling

 
David's fights have taken him around the world and include memorable moments in Denmark, Belgium, Sweden, Los Angeles and other places in the USA but one of his greatest triumphs was winning the Spartan Fight Challenge at lightweight against Brazilian fighter Thiago Meschido, beating him on a submission in only 54 seconds, but on this occasion much closer to home in Newport!
 
"I also went close in an eight-man heavyweight competition in Denmark, where I have lots of supporters, and won my first three bouts, two of them by KO and third by way of submission, to make it to the final.
 
"But by then I had suffered a broken foot, plus damage to my nose and jaw, and it's all about battling on to the end so although I lost I felt I hadn't let myself or my supporters down!"
"But when I lost recently to my old friend Andrew De Vent in the Victoria Warehouse Arena, a fighter I had beaten four years ago, I thought it was time to try something new and so announced my retirement from cage fighting."
 

Looking forward to new avenues

 
David tells us that one of his options is bare-knuckle fighting, which seems to hark back to Victorian times but he assured us it wasn’t quite like that.

“It’s not quite as fierce as it sounds,” he said, “because we use hand wraps instead of gloves and there is a qualified referee and medical help as part of the system.
 
“I’ve already had a look and am in the middle of discussions about taking part in the near future – and I’ve also started kick boxing, with five fights, of which I’ve won four and picked up the Welsh Cruiserweight title by beating Steve Smith in Bristol over five three-minute rounds under the hottest conditions I’ve ever competed in during my entire fighting career!”
 

Loves rugby as well as a second sport

 
Not content with that sort of physical stuff, David also loves playing rugby, mainly for Milford Haven but this season with a short spell for Neyland where he actually played against The Mariners.
 
"I started out in rugby as a six year with my school pal Aaron Sprowell and now, 24 years later, I'm still lacing my boots," admitted Dai, "having started out the season at Neyland but now back with Milford Haven as a flanker who likes to make myself a nuisance to the opposition.
 
"I enjoyed myself with the All Blacks and would play back there on permit if they are short but with my training for other things it wasn't possible to train regularly - and although it's the same at The Obs I am happy just to help out when they need me.
 

Good memories of other players

 
"As a nipper I played for the county juniors alongside talented players like Aaron Sprowell, Andrew Prettyman, James Passmore, Craig Smith, Anthony Picton as well as Chris Johnston and a top Neyland player in Steve Martin for a while - and we did well to reach the finals at Llanelli.
 
"I made my first-team debut as an 18 year old against Betws alongside Billy Marchant and Matthew Reynolds, and I was well looked after by experienced players like Dean Hadley, Rob Kingston, Ioan Dolling and Carl Allen
 
"I've enjoyed playing ever since and although I don't have many trophies from rugby I have a few scars and some great memories of real battles and some lasting friendships made."
 

Medals and memories galore from martial arts

 
Dai certainly has more mementoes from his martial-arts type sports, especially from his cage fighting, and intends adding more to his trophy cabinet from other ventures like bare knuckle fighting, professional boxing and kick boxing.
 
"I know bare-knuckle fighting sounds like something from a century ago but the fists are covered in protective wraps instead of gloves, with a qualified referee and medical staff at every fight so I am in discussions about competing and looking forward to the challenge because to be honest I enjoy a good scrap!
 

Enjoying new challenges

 
"I have already had five bouts in kick boxing and won four of them, including one where I won the Welsh middleweight championship in 2013 
 
"I have also had three professional boxing fights and won them all as I fight out of Gloucester, where I travel to spar under my corner man Sam Clark, who I stay with for a couple of weeks at a time so that my training is very intense.
 
"All my fights have taken place at the Arena at Bridgewater but my next one could well be in Swansea for the Welsh Cruiserweight title.
 

Family matters

 
To stay so committed over such a long period has required total support from his family and Dai readily admits,

"My parents, Pam and Steve Round, have always been there for me and watched most of my fights,” said ‘Square’, whilst my brother Andrew and sister, Carolyn Prynn, plus my nephews and nieces, have been great.
 
"I am also very lucky that my partner Mandy is also fantastic, making me get out and train in the worst weather, and we have a three year old daughter in Lola."
 
Talk to David Round and he will impress you as a quiet, ordinary sort of guy but put him in a controlled fight situation and he is in his element - and will continue to fly the Pembrokeshire Flag with distinction in all sorts of punishing activities as he enjoys nothing better that pitting his will to win against others of a similar mind!