Jay Harris Is Welsh Boxer Of The Year

Jay Harris has been named Welsh Boxer of the Year at the Welsh Area Council Awards – beating Gavin Gwynne and Tony Dixon to the top prize.

Harris – who is due to defend his Commonwealth flyweight title on March 1 – picked up the award in a year he extended his unbeaten professional record to 14 fights.

The Swansea fighter – son of former British champion Peter Harris – is ranked No.4 in the UK – and is due to defend his Commonwealth Crown against Zambian Alfred Muwowo in Cardiff on St. David’s Day.

At the weekend awards night, welterweight Dixon did pick up a consolation with the Contest of the Year award for his points victory over fellow Welshman Kieran Gething at the Newport Arena last October.

That fight edged out the battle between lightweight Gwynne and Myron Mills on the same bill.

Liam Williams – who won the vacant British middleweight title last month – won the Outstanding Achievement Award. It was the Church Village fighter’s second domestic title after his super welterweight belt victory of three years before.

The Prospect of the Year Award went to Newport light heavyweight Kody Davies, ahead of Lance Cooksey and Jacob Robinson.

There were also awards given to former British and European champion and three-time world title challenger Colin Jones (Services to Boxing), former British and Commonwealth champion Eddie Avoth (Lifetime Achievement) and boxing writer Gareth Jones (Contribution to Boxing).

Two new inductees entered the Welsh Boxing Hall of Fame – former world bantamweight champion Robbie Regan and flyweight Percy Jones, who was Wales’ first world champion back in 1914.