A Cardiff Metropolitan University student has become a world boxing champion this week, after representing Wales on the international stage.
Dan Pitt, 18, from Brecon, mid Wales, competed in the U19 World Boxing Championships which took place in Colorado, having recently been signed by the Welsh Boxing Elite Squad.
Dan competed in the 85kg class and faced two tough opponents, first in the semi-finals competing and winning against Aryan Aryan from India. He went on to compete and win against Kazakhstan’s national champion, Danial Raimbekov – achieving the title of champion.
Alongside his prospering boxing career, Dan is in his first year at Cardiff Met, studying the Sport Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage BSc (Hons) degree, having recently completed sixth form at Brecon High School.
Dan said: “I first got into boxing when I was 12, it started as a hobby following my brother who had joined our local boxing club, The Brecon Phoenix. But I soon discovered a love for it, I now train up to three times a day. It is a great sport to learn some key life skills, including discipline. It has become a lifestyle and been my life for the last six years.
“I was so relieved to win at the U19 World Boxing Championships. Standing in the ring at the end of the fight and having my hand raised is the biggest relief and pure joy. A lot of hard work and chunk of my life goes into this sport and this is my highest achievement and the best I can be in my boxing career at the moment, which feels great.”
The U19 World Boxing Championships is the first-ever global tournament for boxers aged 17 and 18 and features competitions across 10 weight categories for both men and women. The event brought together more than 180 participants from 30 national federations, spanning five continents.
Dan was recently signed by the Welsh Boxing Elite Squad, where he trains four days a week, around his studies.
Discussing university life, Dan said: “I am really enjoying the course at Cardiff Met, it is very varied so I have lots of options for when I graduate. The University has also been really supportive and expressed offers to help me with my study, so I have been very lucky.”
Adam Park, Head of Performance at Welsh Boxing, said: “The performance of Dan Pitt at the 2024 U19 World Boxing Championships was outstanding. Dan made history by securing gold, this is a monumental achievement for Welsh Boxing. I am extremely proud of all the performance team that supported the boxers to deliver these performances, especially Zack Davies & Connor Gething, they demonstrated what Welsh Boxing is capable of on a global stage. Our performance programme cannot succeed without our hardworking clubs, a special mention needs to go to Brecon Phoenix, Dan’s world championship gold medal is a testament to their dedication and commitment.”
Lucy Kember, Senior Lecturer in Sports Massage and Rehabilitation at Cardiff Met said: “Dan has made an impressive start to his first year on the SCRAM program, balancing his studies with the demands of international competition. Competing in the U19 World Boxing Championships while transitioning into university life demonstrates his commitment and resilience. It’s inspiring to see him succeed both in the ring and in the classroom, and we’re excited to support him on this journey. His success so far is a testament to his commitment, and we’re excited to see all he accomplishes moving forward.”
“Since being signed by the Welsh Boxing Elite Squad I have been able to travel to Romania, Lithuania, Hungary and the United States. And in a few weeks, I will be competing against Ireland on home turf in Cardiff and then heading to Moldova for another tournament soon after.
“My boxing is allowing me to travel the world with a great team of individuals who enjoy the training and the competition of boxing as much as I do,” Dan added.
