BLACKWOOD amateur boxer Kody Davies has returned to the ring and is targeting a place in the Wales team for this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

The southpaw lost a split decision in an action-packed 91 kg elite heavyweight contest against England’s Greg Bridet at a sell-out full international show in Hereford.

It was Davies’ first bout for two years and he was given just two weeks’ notice to appear in the St David’s Day Grand Prix at Hereford Sixth Form College.

“I have been boxing for about six years but that was my first fight for two years,” said Davies from The Lions Den ABC in Pontllanfraith.

“The other fighter is a GB boxer and I was a bit surprised when I lost and he had his hand raised. He even said it would not have been a surprise had I won.

“I had two weeks’ notice for the fight and I dropped three kilos in weight in 10 days and I felt a little bit weak after the first round. But I thought I had done enough to win.”

The bout against Bridet, who is part of GB boxing’s development squad, was watched by a sell-out audience of around 480 people.

It was the final contest of the evening and England’s team sealed a 7-3 win over John Radmore’s Wales to clinch the Hereford Times Cup.

Davies, whose dad was in his corner, said: “I am in the Wales elite squad and apart from the result, I thought my performance was good and I will use it as a learning curve.

“I will come back stronger and my aim is to represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games this summer.”