Image source, Welsh BoxingImage caption, David Francis (R) is a former Ysgol Gymraeg Ystalyfera rugby team-mate of Ospreys player Morgan Morse
ByOllie Price- Published59 minutes ago
A boxing gym in the Cynon Valley that was once on the brink of closure is now thriving, thanks to the determination of its local community.
The A.N.A. Amateur Boxing Club in Penrhiwceiber in the south Wales valleys was "one bid away from losing the club" after the building was put up for sale. But a fundraising effort that brought together local residents raised around £15,000 to secure its future.
Today, the gym is flourishing, with more than 30 members training up to four times a week and producing Welsh national champions.
Coach Anthony Trow, a former seven-time Welsh champion, said the club's survival has been vital for the area.
"It means everything," he said. "I've come back into the gym just under a year ago, and it was going to be sold from underneath our feet.
"We successfully managed to pull the community together, raise the money and save the club.
"To see it thriving like it is now more people coming in and more coaches joining us it's going in the right direction."
Among the gym's success stories is 22-year-old super-heavyweight David Francis, who has quickly emerged as one of Wales' most promising amateur boxers.
Francis previously played rugby at a high level, representing Ospreys academy and Wales Under-20s, but injuries forced him to reconsider his future in the sport.
"I played rugby until I was about 21, but I was plagued with injuries," he said. "I didn't enjoy it for a while and I always wanted to go back to boxing."
Francis returned to boxing in summer 2025 and joined the amateur club later in the year.
"I came to the gym in November and I haven't looked back since," said Francis.
Despite having just a handful of bouts, Francis made a rapid rise through the ranks. beating Pontypool ABC's Joshua Taylor by split decision in his sixth fight in the final of the Welsh National Championships in April.
The competition featured more than 230 competitors across 37 categories, with boxers representing clubs from across Wales.
"It was really surreal," Francis said. "You don't really expect it, but you try to soak it all up and enjoy it because you don't know when your last one's going to be."
His father, Dafydd Francis, admitted he initially had concerns about his son returning to boxing.
"When he said he wanted to have a fight, I kind of winced a little bit," he said.
"But I told him if he was going to do it, we'd make sure he joined the right gym. I knew Anthony and trusted the environment here.
"As a father, I wanted to make sure he was in a good place and in Penrhiwceiber they're brilliant. It's incredibly inclusive and there are no egos here."
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The club's success is not limited to one boxer. Fifteen-year-old Alfie Taylor is another rising talent, while younger members are also beginning to make their mark.
Mark Stroh, 13, has been training at the gym for around a year and says boxing has had a positive impact on his life.
"I like the fitness and how good it makes me feel," he said. "It's local, I've made lots of friends here and everyone's nice.
"It helps outside of boxing too – it teaches you how to look after yourself."
Stroh is now preparing to compete in the Welsh Open tournament, in which he hopes to secure his first title.
Across Wales, boxing continues to grow. There are currently 1,621 registered boxers and 136 affiliated clubs, according to Welsh Boxing.
The sport also offers pathways to the highest level, including the Commonwealth Games, one of the biggest honours for amateur fighters representing Wales.
But for clubs like A.N.A, the focus remains on community as much as competition.
What was once a gym facing closure has become a hub for opportunity, discipline and ambition and proof of what can be achieved when a community comes together.
