Boxing clever: Carl Keane.

Every sports club needs committed members who give everything in the club's cause, and Carl Keane fits that category at Pembroke amateur boxing club, where he is the coach with specific responsibility for seniors.

But Carl gives far more than that in the club's cause because he is a good role model for youngsters, travels with them to shows all over South Wales and even further afield, joining Ralph Gammer or Andy Edmundson in the corner during bouts and giving good advice and assurance.

Carl had just seven bouts as a senior in amateur boxing, winning four of them and losing narrowly on three other occasions, but it was in kick boxing that he made his name as a black belt second dan in the martial arts. He took part in 80 fights under the auspices of the Welsh Karate Association, won all but 12 of them and was also a Welsh and British light-welterweight champion for some time.

In that especially demanding sport, he was required to put in a minimum of ten kicks in each round and whilst it was a particular strength of his it was to eventually prove his undoing because he sustained knee damage and had to retire at the age of 27.

Carl said: "I won my Welsh title in Porthcawl and took the British crown in Sheffield. With Graham Brockway in my corner on both occasions. I defended both titles for five years as Graham and I went the length and breadth of Great Britain.

"I was super fit in those days because my dad and I had a milk round and he used to drive the van and I galloped between houses and made sure we finished in double-quick time. Lugging milk crates around also helped with my upper body strength and my stamina was first-class."

When Carl was forced to retire he started helping out in the gym at Pembroke ABC and gradually got more and more involved. He is now in attendance every Monday, Wednesday and Friday evening.

"I start the sessions off with a 30-minute run, and follow it up with skipping and circuit training and cardio-vascular exercise. We use the medicine balls to build abdominal strength before we work out on the pads, the punch balls and punch bags, plus we fit in as much sparring as we can get in each evening before the vital warm-down' sessions.

"Peter Harrison and Sean Stuart are our two most experienced senior boxers at the moment but there are good lads coming through from the age groups below and we are hoping that they will go on to great things. We are always on the lookout for new blood and can promise fellas they will receive every help and encouragement, and learn a great deal about themselves."

Just talk to Carl for a short while and his dedication and commitment to the Pembroke ABC shines through. He loves amateur boxing and there is no doubt that his considerable enthusiasm is playing a part in the club's continued success.

3:30pm Tuesday 8th April 2008

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