Amateur Boxing: Ashley Brace edges Lynsey Holdaway for Welsh title
- Published
Boxer Lynsey Holdaway lost on a split decision to 51kg rival Ashley Brace at the Welsh Elite Boxing Championships in Cardiff on Friday.
Merthyr Tydfil's Holdaway had hoped the fight could be a springboard to 2014 Commonwealth Games success in Glasgow.
But the 2011 European Championships silver medallist was pipped to the Welsh title by her rival from Torfaen.
In the women's 60kg final, Charlene Jones (Merlins Bridge) beat Becky Price (Torfaen) also on a split decision.
Colcot's Rachel Tobin won an unanimous decision over Tredegar's Natasha Williams in the women's 64kg.
Speaking before Friday's bout, Holdaway - who also took bronze at the 2013 European Championships, had said: "There's not much competition around Wales for me in the female category at the lower weight, but this year I've got quite a decent opponent so it's going to be a pretty good match.
"Ashley's a pressure fighter; she likes to come forward. We know a lot about each other so that's why it's going to be an interesting match."
In the men's categories, Commonwealth Games gold medallist Sean McGoldrick (St Joseph's) beat 2011 Commonwealth Youth Games silver medallist Joshua John (Britton Ferry) on an unanimous decision in the 56kg division.
McGoldrick's St Joseph's stablemate Joe Cordina also won a sweeping decision over Nico Morrison (Pembroke) at 60kg.
Prizefighter's Kevin Evans stopped Aled Diplock (Merthyr Ex-Servicemen's) in the third round of their 91+kg final.
In the rest of the men's bouts, Kody Davies (Lions Den) beat David Walker (Pontypool) at 91kg, Zack Davies beat Maelor's Len Evans in the 64kg, Nathan Thorley (Splott) beat Sharif Mohamed (Prizefighter) at 81kg, Jamie Evans (Dowlais) beat Morgan Jones (Merthyr Ex-Servicemen's) at 75kg, and Jordan Thomas (Heads of the Valleys) won a split decision over Kieran Gething (Pontypool) at 69kg.
The Championships are the precursor to Wales selecting its boxing squad for Glasgow, which is scheduled to be announced in April.