Competitive Spirit Drives Welsh Twins in Boxing
Ioan (left) and Garan Croft remain undefeated in their professional boxing careers.
"We've always wanted to do better than each other,"says Welsh boxer Garan Croft as he turns to his training partner. Garan is the elder twin by one minute, and both 24-year-olds push each other to reach greater heights.
"Whether we're running, on one of the assault bikes or the vertical climb – we want to beat each other,"Garan adds.
"We've got to be separated in sparring sometimes. We're twins, we've always been competitive, ask our parents. But that's a great asset to have in a training partner."
The brothers will never face each other professionally as Ioan competes as a middleweight and Garan as a super-welterweight.
Upon signing with Matchroom Sport in February 2024, Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn described them as "two very talented young fighters." Both made victorious Matchroom debuts in April; Ioan defeated Serbia's Novak Radulovic, while Garan overcame England's Marco Simmonds.
"It's great to have that backing from Matchroom,"said Ioan.
"It's everything that we've ever worked towards really. It gives us that platform to show how good we are. Our debuts with Matchroom were brilliant here in Manchester and looking forward to our next one now. Before, when we didn't have the backing of Matchroom, we would get out of the ring and didn't know what was next. Now it's nice to have this path in front of us over the next few years and gives us that real incentive to work a little bit harder."
Garan also values the opportunities Matchroom provides.
"It's where any young boxer wants to be at the minute,"he said of the long-term deal.
"The opportunities are massive – it's what people know and it's what people are watching these days. I believe with their backing we can bring big nights of boxing back to Wales. That would be amazing and a dream come true. That's the aim."
Training Under Former Champion Anthony Crolla
The twins transitioned from amateur to professional boxing in 2024, leaving the Great Britain squad five months before the Paris Olympics due to a loss of trust in GB Boxing. Since turning pro, they have been trained by former WBA lightweight champion Anthony Crolla at the Fox ABC gym in Oldham's Limeside area.
"I really believe Ant's one of the best coaches in the country at the minute,"Garan said.
"He's still proving himself as a fairly young trainer. For us, when we walk into the ring on fight night, it's that little bit of extra confidence having someone who's been there, done it himself, walking beside you. Whether that's on fight night or here in the gym, he's got a wealth of knowledge and something we can really learn from."
Ioan added:
"It's a really good, positive environment to be in. It doesn't feel like work for us. This is what we love – we turn up to the gym and when I wake up on Monday morning I'm excited to get there. Don't get me wrong, it's hard when you are in camp and it gets tough but there's a good group of lads here – Anthony's brilliant."
Adjusting to Life in Manchester
The twins' move from their home village of Crymych in north Pembrokeshire to Manchester has been positive.
"It's been great moving up here,"Garan said.
"The training up here is exceptional and it's the next step we need and we're really pushing on here. It's all going well and looking forward to what's coming up next now."
Despite their new environment, they remain connected to their Welsh roots.
"We've had massive backing back home. It's evident now when we fight – there's two to three hundred coming up and supporting. It's a 10-hour round trip for them to get up here and they made noise all night. They had a great time and we are so grateful to have backing like that because not everyone has it."
Commonwealth Games Success and Welsh Boxing Outlook
Before turning professional, the Croft brothers represented Wales at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. Garan earned a bronze medal in the light-middleweight division, while Ioan won gold in the welterweight category.
"In many ways it feels like yesterday, being with the boys in the training camp running up to it,"said Ioan, who defeated Stephen Zimba of Zambia to claim gold.
"In other ways I've done so much since the Games. Whatever I go on and do in boxing, winning the Commonwealth Games will always be up there with one of my biggest achievements and one of my proudest moments. It will be good this time to watch and support the Welsh lads."
Garan commented on the current state of Welsh boxing.
"Boxing in Wales at the minute is flying and I believe it's not just in south Wales - the north is really strong at the minute,"he said.
"There are some young lads in north Wales coming through who are really impressive and are really talented. Hopefully we can inspire the next generation of Welsh lads."
Future Goals and Title Aspirations
Both brothers aim to return to the ring during the summer, with opponents to be announced soon. Looking ahead, they are focused on winning British titles.
"In 12 months' time I want to be in a position to fight for a title of any sort really but ideally in a place for a British title shot by the end of next year,"Garan said.
"That's really something we want to do and it's definitely within reach now. With the backing of Matchroom we've got that path and if you put that hard work in you can really achieve it."
Ioan agreed:
"We've got a lot of hard work to put in to get there – it's not a given. But in 12 months' time we want to be knocking on the door – whether it's a British or another title – we want to be up there."
