NEWPORT'S Jerome Samuels has followed in his father Paul's footsteps by winning the Welsh light-middleweight title.
The 20-year-old edged out Blackwood battler Dai Jones 97-96 on points at the Newport Centre to win his first belt and claim the same title his dad won back in 1998.
Meanwhile, former Commonwealth light-middleweight champion Bradley Pryce is setting his sights on the British welterweight title after getting back to winning ways last night.
The Newbridge fighter, who turns 33 today, got the celebrations started early with a routine victory over Latvian Raimond Sniedze.
Sniedze quit on his stool after round two having been saved by the bell seconds earlier after Pryce had forced him to the canvas having dominated throughout.
“It’s nice to get a win on the record again,” said Pryce, who had lost six out of his last seven bouts prior to last night.
“I looked at his record and I knew it was a winnable fight but people think I’m a journeyman myself these days.
“Maybe people didn’t think I could win in that style anymore but I proved I’ve still got plenty left in the tank and I’ve still got ambitions.”
The former Team Calzaghe man was beaten on points by current British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Frankie Gavin in December in a non-title fight but he still believes he can challenge for belts.
“I needed this confidence-boosting win but I want bigger fights,” said Pryce, who now trains with another former Commonwealth champion in Jamie Arthur.
“I don’t want to be cast as a journeyman. I’ve only been losing to top fighters like Frankie Gavin and Sergey Rabchenko and I’ve taken those fights at short notice.
“I’m getting on a bit now but I want the British title at welter.”
There was no such luck for Pryce’s younger brother Darren, however, as he was comfortably beaten 40-37 on points by Cardiff’s Kyle King.
Also on the Enter the Dragon show, the debut as a promoter for ex-world champ Steve Robinson, there was a convincing win for Tony Dixon over bouncing Czech Jan Balog.
The 21-year-old from Mountain Ash won every round to take the verdict 40-36 on points in his fourth fight as a professional.
Nantymoel fighter Danni Griffiths, who trains with Tony Borg at St Joseph’s in Newport, also recorded a 40-37 win over Aberystwyth journeyman Jamie Ambler.
And in the final bout of the evening Cardiff cruiserweight Craig Kennedy beat Moses Matovo 80-72 on points to win the British Masters Bronze belt.
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