TRIUMPHANT Gwent boxer Jamie Arthur brought his Commonwealth Games gold medal home - and vowed to take a well-earned break.

Lightweight fighter Jamie, 22, was proud to be part of the most successful Welsh team ever to visit the Games, with a combined total of 31 medals.

But the Cwmbran boxer, who trains with Coed Eva Boxing Club, won't be considering his future - whether to go professional - for at least the next couple of weeks.

He confessed he was still too overwhelmed by his unexpected victory over the highly rated Zambian Dennis Zimba to worry about his next move.

Last night Jamie said: "It's starting to hit me a bit more now.

"It was like I was dreaming when the flag was being raised and the national anthem was being played - it was a dream come true.

"It was as if I was in a daze and it's just starting to sink in now.

"I've got a few things to do at home, so I'm going to be rushed about a bit, but there's definitely going to be a bit of a party with friends and family to celebrate.

"I think everyone's surprised - I know I wanted to win, but to actually come away with a gold medal has surprised even me!"

Jamie is Wales' first Boxing Commonwealth gold winner since Welsh wizard Howard Winstone won in Cardiff in 1958.

And following his triumph, Jamie has been urged to box for Britain in the 2004 Olympics or to join Gwent fighter Joe Calzaghe on the professional circuit.

He even bumped into British Olympic boxing hero Audley Harrison in Manchester, now a professional fighter.

But he refused to be drawn on the subject, and said: "At the moment I'm going to relax with my family for a couple of weeks and speak to them about my future.

"It was a massive honour just to be there and to meet so many people from all over the world. Even watching them train and warm up was great.

"It was unbelievable seeing all the athletes walking around the village, and everyone was great - there were no hard feelings. It was wicked and everyone was brilliant, especially the Welsh team.

"I think that preparation was the key, because I've been training for the last three or four months.

"All the hard work and all the effort everyone's put in has been worth it - and now there may be bigger and better things to go on to."

* Pictured: Commonwealth Games gold medal winner Jamie Arthur is welcomed home to Cwmbran by his son Daniel, three