Maddie’s making a name for herself in amateur boxing!

 
When Maddie Guy’s arm was raised aloft in the ring at the recent Merlins Bridge Amateur Boxing Club’s fantastic evening at the Withybush Showground there was real joy on the face of the 16-year-old from St Davids because it marked her first win in the ring after two defeats in her previous bouts - and it was a tribute to her tenacity and commitment because she had worked so hard to shrug off the disappointment of those two losses.
 

Great win as reward for her commitment

 
Maddie took on Keisha Rees (Pontypridd ABC) and readily admits just how nervous she was when she told us,
“My heart was pounding like a drum as we made the long walk from the changing rooms to the AC/DC music from the heavy metal group I had chosen to accompany me. There were flashing lights and I could see myself on the huge screens suspended over the ring so when the announcer called out my name I took a deep breath, as I had been told by much coaches Graham Brockway and Naomi Dalton.
 
“It did make me feel a little calmer, although when I looked across the ring at Keisha she certainly looked very strong so I just had to take another deep breath before the bell for round one rang.
 
“Then I felt quite confident after my first straight left went through her guard and the referee gave her a standing count!”
 
As a left-harder by instinct, Maddie boxes in the ‘southpaw’ style, which means she leads with her right hand and foot, rather than the ‘orthodox’ style of the other way round and it certainly seemed to catch her opponent off her guard because later in the round another straight left rocked her opponent back on her heels and forced her to take another standing count.

 

Family matters . . .

 
Then the referee sensibly stopped the bout and Maddie was awarded the verdict, to the immense cheers of the partisan home crowd, which included her delighted family situated as close to ringside as they could get.
 
“I spotted them and could see how thrilled they were, as were Graham and Naomi, and I couldn’t help doing a little jig of delight myself because I had worked so hard for this moment and now it had arrived!”
 
Maddie would be the first to sing the praises of her family because her parents have been great taxi drivers to her regular training sessions and her weekly training nights were increased to three when her Nan sadly passed away and her granddad Dai volunteered to help her and he’s a pretty good taxi driver too!
 
“My dad Chris used to play rugby and football in St Davids and my mum Nicola actually took part in kick boxing when she was younger, whilst her twin sister Phoebe, who joined Maddie in playing netball, has actually started training at the Merlins Bridge, and who knows - there could even be two Guy girls on the bill some day!
 
As well as the afore-mentioned netball at Ysgol Penrhyn Dewi, where Maddie played at goal defence or goalkeeper whilst Phoebe featured at wing defence, - and Maddie was also a keen swimmer with Fishguard Fliers before the commitment was too much, with her examinations in the pipeline at St Davids, where head teacher Rachel Thomas encouraged her a lot!

 

A warm welcome awaited Maddie at Merlins Bridge ABC

 
Maddie started her interest in boxing after the Covid lock-down had ended and she wanted to lose a little weight so she started exercising with her dad after he’d acquired boxing gloves and pads.
 
“I decided to find out a little more about clubs in the area and I found Merlins Bridge on Face Book, and when I contacted them, Naomi Dalton couldn’t have been more helpful or encouraging and when I went along to the gym Graham (Brockway) and the other assistant coaches were  just as helpful.
 
“The other members, especially the girls, were also great and as well as enjoying some really challenging training routines I was shown the correct way to punch the heavy bags so I wouldn’t injure my arms, how to defend and other things that gave me a boost to my well-being.
 
“To be honest I just toddled along once a week and just enjoyed being there but after a while I wanted to do even more - and may parents were brilliant on our twice-weekly trips into Haverfordwest - which then became three after the awfully bad time when Nan died and granddad also offered to help.”
 

Started sparring – and then agreed to box

 
Then 2023 was an even bigger turning point in her involvement because Maddie decided she would like to try sparring so she sorted out proper contact lenses.

“Of course, I was a bit apprehensive at first but Graham watched me like a hawk to make sure I was ok and then organised a trip to Llanell ABC, to get some more advice and my confidence soon was on the rise.
 
“When Graham asked if I fancied boxing on our home show alongside Ffion Evans I agreed - but on the night neither of our opponents turned up so we boxed an exhibition bout and although she was more experienced than me, she looked after me and I got through it to collect my first trophy, which was fantastic!”



 

Lost both early bouts but battled on

 
Then Maddie made her competitive debut in the ring against Scarlett Darch but after a good first round she was caught by a punch and out of the blue the bout was stopped and Scarlett was declared the winner.
 
“To be honest, I was gutted but I decided I just had to work harder, which I did before the Welsh Novices semi-final at Ebbw Vale against the same opponent – and this time I had a nose bleed which Graham couldn’t stop so I lost – but at least had a bronze medal to take home as consolation.”

 

And finally . . .

 
Then came that bout on the huge show at the Withybush Arena and it was a wonderful third time lucky.
“I promised myself that all the hard work would pay off if I really believed in myself, as Graham and Naomi had told me, and that is just what happened.
 
“It was a memorable evening and I would like to thank my fantastic coaches, my brilliant family and all the other boxers for their support and belief in me.”
 
There is no doubt that both Graham and Naomi are full of praise for Naomi’s development and we at PembrokeshireSport.co.uk can only share their views because Maddie Guy is a credit to her family, club and amateur boxing in general – and long may she continue to find success and great satisfaction in a sport she clearly loves!