Connor Williams, who won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, believes now is the perfect moment to pursue his long-held dream by starting his career as a professional boxer. For the Welsh athlete, boxing has been more than just a sport—it has provided him with much-needed purpose and focus.
Williams, 24, has been recognized as one of Wales’ most promising amateur boxers and is eager to challenge himself at the professional level. Fresh off his Commonwealth Games success, he feels this is the ideal time to make the transition, noting that turning professional has been a lifelong goal since he began boxing.
Beginning his boxing journey at 15 to find direction, Williams rapidly rose through the amateur ranks, winning the Welsh National Elite title in 2023 and reaching the GB Three Nations final in 2025. However, it was his experience with Team Wales that convinced him to turn pro. Having joined the Welsh boxing programme just 18 months prior to the Commonwealth Games, he secured victories over Peter Kotze, Duken Holo Tutakiitoa, and Garyn McAllister to reach the final, crediting the programme for transforming him into a stronger, more powerful fighter.
Although Williams finished with a silver medal after losing on points to England’s Isaac Okoh in the 90kg heavyweight final, competing at the Commonwealth Games was a monumental achievement in itself. He explains that the Games represented the pinnacle of his amateur ambitions, and after that, his sights shifted firmly toward becoming a world champion in the professional arena.
Williams joins other Welsh boxers like bronze medallist Owain Harris-Allen and fellow silver medallist Orlando Holley-Sotomi, all of whom have left the amateur ranks to turn pro. Williams is excited to start alongside them, aiming to progress and share success in their professional careers, just as they did during their amateur days.
Williams’ new manager, Gary Lockett, believes this wave of emerging talent could rejuvenate Welsh boxing, which has seen a decline in major promotional events in recent years. He hopes their professional journeys can attract bigger promoters back to Wales.
Starting his professional career also means new mentorship for Williams. His trainer, former WBO cruiserweight world champion Enzo Maccarinelli, has long followed Williams’ progress and began working with him after the Commonwealth Games. Maccarinelli sees great potential in Williams but emphasizes the need to adjust his style for the professional ranks, focusing on harder punches and conditioning for longer bouts, as pro fights can extend to 8, 10, or even 12 rounds.
Maccarinelli has already witnessed promising signs, noting Williams held his own in sparring with Viddal Riley, a more experienced fighter. Alongside Maccarinelli, Lockett was drawn to Williams not only for his skill but for his character, describing him as a genuinely nice person with whom he immediately connected.
Their plan is to launch Williams’ professional career with a large promoter rather than smaller venues, aiming for a debut around late November, pending medical checks and regulatory approvals. Williams will likely compete in the recently introduced light cruiserweight division at 13.5 stone (approximately 189 pounds), which Lockett believes suits him well.
With mentors like Maccarinelli—the only world champion from Swansea—and Lockett supporting him, Williams hopes to follow in their footsteps and create a lasting legacy for Welsh boxing. Maccarinelli highlights the special significance of training a local fighter like Williams, aspiring to see him become Swansea’s next world champion. Williams shares this vision and is motivated by the possibility of continuing the city’s proud boxing tradition.
Looking ahead, Lockett envisions Williams targeting world titles and believes his strong foundation and guidance could help him achieve that goal. The story of Swansea producing a second world champion would undoubtedly be a remarkable milestone for the sport and the region.
Fan Take: This news is exciting for fighting fans as it marks the beginning of a new chapter for a talented and dedicated Welsh fighter who has already proven himself on a big stage. Connor Williams’ progression into the professional ranks, backed by experienced mentors, could signal a resurgence in Welsh boxing and inspire a fresh wave of enthusiasm and competition in the sport.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
