
Author:
Rob Day
Publish Date:
04/20/2020
Fighting out of the Welsh capital, Cardiff, Maredudd Thomas trains at Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club. The 23-year-old, full-time boxer, is trained by former World Middleweight title challenger Gary Lockett.
The young welterweight scored a few spectacular KO’s early on, though he’s developed into a well-rounded boxer. In just over two years, he’s compiled an unbeaten run in 11 bouts.
I caught up with Maredudd to talk about his progression in the professional ranks.
From a young age, I’ve always been interested in boxing, so my Dad took me to the boxing gym, aged nine, and I’ve never stopped since then.
I boxed out of Colcot Amateur Boxing Club and had around sixty amateur fights. My highlights of amateur boxing were fighting for Wales in international tournaments.
I’m managed by Mo Prior and trained by Gary Lockett.
Gary Lockett trains you at the Llanrumney Phoenix Boxing Club in Cardiff. Describe the gym and who’re the characters there?
We have a great gym, full of top Welsh fighters. We all push each other, and there’s always a good atmosphere in the gym.
My favourite part of training would be sparring.
Most of my sparring is with British Welterweight Champion, Chris Jenkins; we always have good sparring. It is great for me to have this sparring in the gym. Also, I spar prospect Jay Munn and Olympic Silver Medalist Fred Evans, so plenty of different styles to mix it with.
For my pro debut, I was excited to be fighting finally, as I had a few issues with medicals beforehand. On the night I did get nervous, it was the first time having a crowd of my family and friends watching me fight. As most of my amateur fights, it would just be my Dad watching me.
I’ve now had 11 pro-fights, and I’m learning with each contest. Gary likes to keep me matched up with opponents that I can learn from and not just KO and gain no experience from.
I’m lucky to have been kept so busy in my pro career. At first, I had some bad luck with my medical, and my fight getting called off on the night. But since my third fight, I’ve been fighting very regularly, which has been great for me.
My last fight, in March, versus Serge Ambomo, I felt like I boxed good, listening to Gary, in my corner. Just boxing behind my jab and not getting involved in a scrap with a big puncher. By boxing a lot smarter in this fight, I won all six rounds clearly.
With the current coronavirus situation, it’s been harder to train with not being able to use any gyms. But I am lucky to still be able to do pad sessions with my brother, and I’m always running to keep fit.
I’m lucky to have my sponsors behind me Sterling Security and Frans Injury and Rehab.
Before the cancellation of all sporting events, I had a WBC Youth title fight lined up for the 8th of May, in Bolton, England, against another unbeaten fighter Sahir Iqbal (7-0). That is the fight I want, as soon as this is all over, it’s a good fight for me and one I know I can win.
My ambition in boxing is to take it as far as I possibly can and to win every title on the way.
My Instagram is maredudd96 and Twitter @mareduddT