By Graham Thomas
World champion Lee Selby was named best boxer of the year at the inaugural British Boxing Board of Control Welsh Area Council Awards night.
The IBF featherweight champion from Barry took the prize ahead of Welsh prospects at light-middleweight Liam Williams and super lightweight Chris Jenkins.
The recognition – picked up on Saturday night at a packed dinner at the Swalec Stadium – completed a memorable 12 months for Selby (22-1 8KO), who became Wales’ 12th world champion last May.
The 29-year-old lifted the IBF crown by stopping Evgeny Gradovich in London and then made a maiden defence against Fernando Montiel in Arizona.
The first inductees into the new Welsh Boxing Hall of Fame were declared with Jim Driscoll and Joe Calzaghe leading the way.
Former world champion Calzaghe retired unbeaten in 2009 after 46 fights at super-middleweight and light-heavyweight.
© Huw Evans Agency, Cardiff
A century before, featherweight Driscoll is remembered as the first Welsh fighter whose talent was recognised around the world, even though a no knockout rule meant he was denied a world title.
With former referee and boxing historian Wynford Jones honouring both fighters with detailed accounts of their careers, more nominations will be considered before next year’s awards.
One the same night, Craig “The Kid” Kennedy (13-0 7KO) picked up the best prospect award, pipping Zac Davies and Mitch Buckland for the honour.
Cruiserweight Kennedy, who has a British title eliminator against Tony Conquest on March 11, is keen to make up for lost time earlier in his career and at the age of 30 could become the oldest “kid” holding a domestic title.
The fight of the year award was shared by Chris Ware (6-1 3KO) for his middleweight scrap with Frankie Borg (9-5 4KO) last March.
A lifetime achievement award went to veteran trainer Dai Gardiner, while others to be honoured included Jimmy Broomfield (contribution to boxing) and Terry Gooding (services to boxing).