Two well-known champions out of the Merlins Bridge Amateur Boxing Club camp, Haverfordwest, are really hitting the headlines for all the right reasons.

Earlier this month, Charlene Jones, 24, of Pembroke Dock, and Mickey McDonagh, 17, of Pennar, have both recently been selected for their respective Welsh elite boxing squads, and the talented boxers are already busy preparing for the Commonwealth Games, which will take place in April 2018 at the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Both are under the expert guidance of National Coach Colin Jones.

Jones has won four Welsh titles and is currently the British Women’s 60kg champion, and McDonagh has won six Welsh titles and McDonagh has just retained the British 56kg title.

Jones and McDonagh, both stay in Cardiff and are currently training four times a week in the capital with respective Welsh elite squads, and for the rest of the week the pair are training in the gym in Haverfordwest with highly experienced and respected Merlins Bridge ABA trainer Graham Brockway.

At the end of the month, orthodox fighter Jones will take part in the British Women’s Championships, which will be staged in Scotland at the end of the month.

Orthodox boxer McDonagh has also received the terrific news that he has been selected for the Great Britain Potential squad for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, when he finishes his four days training in Cardiff, then he has to travel to Sheffield for more punishing sessions for the remainder of the week.

Next month, McDonagh will be representing Wales in the Youth European Games, which are taking place in Russia.

It’s a huge commitment for any young talented boxer, and McDonagh has the potential to go all the way in what is an extremely tough and physically demanding sport.

At amateur level the money that they receive Welsh ABA barely covers their travelling expenses, so the talented boxers are appealing for any generous sponsor or donations to help with their on-going living costs as they pursue their lifelong dreams.

“I’m really proud of the pair of them,” said Brockway. “To have one boxer in an elite squad is brilliant, but to have two fantastic fighters is superb. I wish them every success as they are a credit to our club, county and country.”