Orlando Holley-Sotomi became a British champion in 2023, and on Wednesday he produced the standout moment of a successful hour for Welsh boxing in Glasgow. In the opening minute of his quarter-final bout, the Newport boxer landed two straight right hands, then at 68 seconds he unleashed another thunderous shot before a left hook sent Lesotho's Refiloe Thai to the canvas.
“Watching tape of my opponent, he was open to my backhand,”
“My backhand is one of my best shots so I didn't hesitate, I just used it.”
Knockouts of this brutality are rare in amateur boxing, and ‘The General’ looked every bit the pro. After a tense silence as doctors rushed to his aid, Thai got to his feet to relieved applause from the gallery. When the referee lifted Orlando's dangerous right hand in victory, it marked the end of a successful hour in Glasgow for Welsh boxing on Wednesday afternoon.
Defending champion Rosie Eccles stopped Samukelisiwe Sinothile Ncube in the second round of the women's 70kg before delaying her media duties to watch Owain Harris-Allan win unanimously on points against home favourite Nick Devlin. Eccles, Harris-Allan and Holley-Sotomi join super heavyweight Connor Williams in guaranteeing themselves a Commonwealth Games medal. In boxing, losing semi-finalists are awarded bronze medals.
So Friday, 30 July will see them seek to upgrade their medal colours ahead of finals the following day.
Here are the four boxers chasing gold for Wales.
Rosie Eccles
Eccles won a silver medal on the Gold Coast in 2018 before claiming gold four years later in Birmingham
The Olympian's glittering CV already includes gold and silver Commonwealth medals but she wants the trilogy'.
The Caldicot light-middleweight, who turned 30 on the day she carried the Welsh flag at the opening ceremony in Glasgow, claims to have
“more fire than ever”as she aims to repeat her gold medal in Birmingham.
After revealing she will hang up her gloves after these Games, Eccles says she is trying to keep a lid on her emotions.
“It was an amazing feeling stood waiting to walk out because the journey here has been probably one of my hardest in my career,”
“I've had to keep my performance head on and keep the emotion side of it in the box. I could be very emotional and sentimental, but it's one fight at a time.
“We've done some work to get here and I've just got to go and execute now and hopefully make them all proud.”
Eccles fights India's Arundhati Choudhary at 15:00 BST for a place in the gold medal bout.
Owain Harris-Allan
Harris-Allan won a bronze medal in Birmingham in 2022
Harris-Allan first entered the ring aged seven to
“burn off some energy”.
He was 18 in Birmingham when he
“snuck through the back door”to claim a bronze medal in Birmingham 2022.
Two years later he narrowly missed out on qualification to box for Team GB at the Paris Olympics.
The Cardiff fighter has talked a big game in the run up to these Games and even cupped his ear to the home crowd after beating Scotland's Nick Devlin in men's lightweight quarter-final.
“They were all loud when he was coming in,”
“They weren't so loud when I came out.
“I'm not satisfied. I've come for a gold medal and I'll be sure to do that.”
Harris-Allan fights India's Sachin Sachin at 20:30 BST.
Orlando Holley-Sotomi
Holley-Sotomi won a European U23 bronze medal in 2025
Holley-Sotomi was a promising rugby player when he first began boxing at 15 years old.
He was in the Dragons academy and picked up the sport in order to improve his fitness.
A three-time Welsh champion, his statement knockout win on Wednesday sets up a semi-final against Mauritius' Merven Clair at 16:00 BST on Friday.
“I've made it to a semi-final before in a major competition at Europeans and I just missed the final,”
“So this is a big one for me. I want to get to the finals, avenge myself and just prove that I belong.
“I'm going to make it to a final and I'm going to get a gold medal.”
Connor Williams
Connor Williams joined Welsh boxing's elite programme in February 2025
The Swansea boxer has made a rapid rise since joining Welsh boxing's elite programme only last year.
He says his baby boy Cass, named after the great Muhammad Ali, would probably try to eat his medal, whichever colour that may be come Saturday.
“I'm very confident going into the semi-finals,”
“I've had two good wins now. I'm building a lot of momentum and I feel like I'm destined for this.”
Williams faces Northern Ireland's Garyn McAllister at 16:30 BST on Friday.
When was Wales' most successful Games?
Team Wales won six medals at Birmingham 2022 including gold medals for Eccles and Ioan Croft, silver for Taylor Bevan and bronze for Jake Dodd, Harris-Allan and Garan Croft.
Ioan Croft won gold in Birmingham 2022, while twin brother Garan claimed a bronze medal
Though Wales cannot match that tally in Glasgow, Games success is measured on the number of golds won.
So can the class of 2026 surpass Wales' tally of four years ago?
