State Games silver medalist Connor Williams feels there is no better time to fulfill a lifelong ambition as he prepares to begin his professional boxing career.
For the Welsh champions, the game provided much more than success. He gave him a portion.
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“I feel like I’ve found my place in the boxing world,” Williams said.
Having established himself as one of Wales’ most famous amateur talents, now twenty-four years on he is ready to prove himself in the professional ranks.
“Coming off the back of a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games, I don’t think there’s a better time to turn around,” he said.
“Being a professional boxer has always been in the back of my mind since I started boxing. Everyone wants to be a professional boxer when they leave.”
Williams started at 15, initially looking for direction before finding the sport that now shapes his future.
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His rise through the amateur ranks culminated in 2023 when he won the Welsh National Championships title, before reaching the GB Three Nations finals in 2025.
However, it was his time with Team Wales that finally convinced him it was the right time to make the switch.
Williams joined the Wales boxing program just 18 months ago before the Commonwealth Games and joined Peter Kotze, Duken Holo Tutakiitoa and Garyn McAllister on the final journey.
More importantly, he believes the fighter’s attitude has transformed him.
“It made me a much more dangerous and powerful fighter,” Williams said.
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“I became a lot stronger when I joined the program and was introduced to a whole other world of boxing. They definitely prepared me.”
Williams eventually claimed silver after a unanimous defeat of England’s Isaac Okoh in the 90kg heavyweight final.
But the medal wasn’t the only thing that made the experience memorable.
“It’s been a great competition for Wales at the Commonwealth Games,” he added.
“As far as my amateur aspirations went, they were almost public games. After the games, I didn’t really think anything more in amateurs and I always wanted to become a world champion in the pro game.”
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Williams was not the only Welsh champion to leave Glasgow with a medal. Bronze medalist Owain Harris-Allen and fellow silver medalist Orlando Holley-Sotomi also left the amateur program to turn professional.
“I torture myself at the same time as a child,” he said.
“I wish we could be on the same cards together through our journeys and progress as we did as lovers.
“It was great to share the Games with them and hopefully, as we did, they will succeed together in the Commonwealth Games.”
Their common approach is something Williams’ new manager Gary Lockett believes could help Welsh boxing to revive.
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“Boxing in Wales over the last few years has had the disadvantage that many of the major promoters have not been coming here.
“It would be a shame if the big shows come to Wales in full force. Hopefully these boys can be encouraged by professional conversion promoters to come back.”
Who is in Connor’s corner?
The 23-year-old hopes he can pursue “world titles in the future” [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Turning to professional boxing means turning to new leaders.
“I know how good he can be,” said Williams’ new trainer, Enzo Maccarinelli.
“That’s a very good potential. I just got to release that potential.”
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Former WBO cruiserweight world champion Maccarinelli began working with Williams after the State Games, but has followed his progress for years.
“I’ve known Connor for a long time,” he said.
“I knew his coach, Stephen Brophy, and it was a natural progression when he wanted to turn professional. I knew it would come at some point.”
Despite Williams’ surprise, Maccarinelli knows that adjustments must be made.
“Professional boxing is a different game,” he said.
“We have to change the light, we get to hit something harder, but the power has reached the top.
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“He’s like a sponge. He always chooses things and always asks me what he can do.
“We need conditions for eight, 10 or 12 rounds rather than just rushing over three.”
And Maccarinelli had already seen signs of encouragement from his Swansea man.
“That year with Viddal Leo I got someone to spare,” he said.
“He didn’t look out of place. Obviously Viddal was at a higher level, but Connor held his own and I know he impressed Viddal as well.”
Maccarinelli isn’t the only figure expert behind Williams, as the boxer introduced former world title challenger Lockett.
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In fact, Williams’ appearances in Glasgow were enough to convince Lockett to get involved.
“Seeing Connor at the Commonwealth Games, I realized what a good fighter he was,” Lockett said.
“You always want to work with very good fighters and Connor shows what he can bring to the table.”
Lockett was equally impressed by the man outside the ring.
“He is a very nice person and it made me want to work with him even more. We are getting along very well.
“He’s a lovely boy. I’m really happy to work with him. It’s like I’ve known him for years.”
Now, the focus is on getting Williams’ professional debut right on the court.
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“With Connor,” we don’t really want to go down the small hall route. We want him to go with a big fan and we’re in the process of doing that,” said Lockett.
There are still medical checks and Boxing Board requirements to complete, but “The End of November” is known as the first target of his first predation of the profession.
Williams is likely to make his professional debut at the end of November [Huw Evans Picture Agency]
Williams is also expected to fight in the newly introduced lightweight division, a 13.5 stone weight that Lockett believes suits Cambris.
With Maccarinelli and Lockett leading the next race of his career, Williams has two very experienced figures in his corner.
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Maccarinelli, Swansea’s only world champion, believes he will add meaning to his company.
“When I have a local boy, the same age as myself, it’s always important to see the boy do well,” he said.
“Connor wants to become another world striker when he first trained at Swansea. There is history there.”
Williams shares the vision.
“I think it’s going to be a big thing. The Swansea champion is creating a following,” said the boxer.
And while the road to fame has only just begun, Lockett feels Williams’ next chapter is writing.
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“I’m sure Connor.” he said.
“I saw him as a very good boxer in the games and with Enzo behind him, who knows?
“Maybe he could go to another world champion, Swansea. It would be quite a story, wouldn’t it?”