At 17 years of age James Griffiths is one of the promising young boxers to emerge over the last couple of years at Merlins Amateur Boxing Club.
 
James has had three bouts and remains unbeaten – and would have had more but for the fact that he has been heavily involved in exams and sensibly took the view that his education had to come first, despite the fact that he really does enjoy the discipline of training and the adrenalin rush that taking part in bouts brings.
 
It is a view totally supported by club coach Graham Brockway, who told us,
“James is a sensible, intelligent young man and there is no way we would rush him into taking bouts for which he wasn’t ready.
 
“Now that his studies are finished for the moment we have a bout planned for him this month in Swansea and then definitely another on our forthcoming show in Letterston, which is scheduled to take place in late February.”
 

Sporting family – and great support

 
James hails from a sporting Haverfordwest family, with his grandfather Brian Griffiths (known to all as WMB because of his Christian name initials) as a hugely respected cricketer with Burton amongst other sports. James’ father Adrian also played cricket and golf and one of his many sporting cousins is Becky Harries, the best-known lady golfer in the county over recent years.
 
Small wonder then that when James boxes locally he has a considerable family following, as he did last year at Letterston.
 
“There were 25 family and friends who came with me to the shop,” said James, “and more who came by car so it was a real thrill – with loads of noise – when I was announced as the winner!”
 

Finding a suitable sporting interest

 
Before he set out in boxing James tried his hand at rugby and football but never stayed at either for long.
“A few years ago I was looking for a sport that I could be involved in on a more one-to-one basis and I decided to go to Merlins Bridge ABC after a bit of a fuss in town where someone tried to head butt me.
 
“All I wanted was a little more self-confidence in dealing with such stupid aggression but once I started training I knew it was the sport for me, especially after I had tried sparring with some of the more experienced boxers at the club.”
 

‘Awkward customer’ who is learning fast

 
He is a little different from others of his age because he is 6’ 2” tall and weighs in at under12 stone so it isn’t always easy to find opponents who want to face his long reach and awkward southpaw style, which means as a left-hander he leads with his right arm and right foot.
 
“James has worked hard to develop a nice straight right jab and powerful hook,” Graham Brockway told us, “and we now have him working hard on the pads and heavy punch bags so that he can throw the whole range of punches – and then he will be someone to look out for.”
 
James first attended Merlins Bridge ABC with a couple of pals but they dropped out and he carried on.
“Graham was brilliant because he never rushes anyone into going into the ring until they are ready – and he is also superb during bouts because he knows what to say as reassurance before the start and what tactics to use when he’s in our corner between rounds.
 
“We are also lucky to have Mark Jenkins as an assistant coach because he’s a help with individual work and on the pads.”
 

Hard work and commitment are vital

 
James trains three times a week at the club and goes on a four-five mile run a couple of times, as well as working out in the gym at the local Leisure Centre when time allows.
 
“Our training is really intense,” admitted James, “as we start off with some shadow boxing and skipping, which looks easy until you give it a try, and then we do ‘ton ups’ which are ten sets of ten exercises like press ups, squat thrusts and burpees.
 
“It is really tough and if anyone takes short cuts they are quickly spotted by Graham, who quickly reminds them that they are only cheating themselves, especially if they go into the ring and run out of steam because of it.
 
“Then there’s 20 minutes full-on with a partner on the punch bags, building up arm strength, and then some sparring before we warm down at the finish of a session.”
 

Sparring is good – and so is winning bouts!

 
James sometimes spars with Dale Evans, who is an experienced professional boxer, Thomas Bedford and Alex Campbell, and says that he is learning more with every session.
 
Coincidentally, his first bout was against Dale’s brother Luke on a show in Ammanford where he had his opponent on the floor after 30 seconds before the bout went the distance and James was adjudged the winner by the three judges.
 
“It went so quickly that I couldn’t believe it and when the referee raised my arm as the winner I felt ten feet tall!”
 

Steep learning curve

 
James’ second bout was at Newcastle Emlyn and since there was no suitable opponent of similar age and experience he boxed a former Welsh champion who had over 30 bouts in an exhibition match, which means there is no winner and the experienced boxer mustn’t box at full capacity or the referee would call a halt.
 
For James it was a different experience though and says that he certainly learned a great deal about how much he could still improve!
 
Then came the bout in Letterston, which James duly won with another all-action display that pleased the crowd.
 

And finally . . .

 
Ask him about heroes in the sport and alongside Mr Brockway he would nominate Mohammed Ali.
 
“He really was ‘The Greatest’ in the ring and I have watched every fight, read everything about him, especially his autobiography, and he shows what boxing is all about.
 
James was delighted that closer to home Graham Brockway won the ‘Coach of the Year’ at the Sport Pembrokeshire awards.
“Merlins Bridge ABC is a brilliant club and I am proud to be a small part of a group who hold Graham up as someone to really respect.
 
“I just want to carry on doing my best for our club and just enjoying what I am doing because it is a great sport and others should give it a try if they can’t find something active to suit them.
 
“I did just that and look at what it is done for me in terms of fitness, confidence, self-discipline and belief!”