CRYMYCH boxing twins Ioan and Garan Croft each bagged gold medals at the 31st international Pirkka tournament in Tampere, Finland last week – an event which drew 180 boxers from 10 countries.

Southpaw Ioan produced a brilliant display against Kristian Asula, of RSG Finland, in the B-54 kg semi-final, picking his shots and controlling the fight from start to finish en route to a unanimous points decision.

Competing in the B-57 kg class, Garan boxed Serhat Ozan (TVS Finland) who came out very strong.

“Garan was in danger of getting involved in one of those scraps which he so often does,” said Cardigan ABC head coach Guy Croft. “A straight talking-to at the end of the first got him back to boxing and he edged the second round using his right hand with much more effect.

“By the third he was in his stride and punishing Serhat with with well-timed accurate shots from both hands to win a unanimous decision – Serhat actually hit the canvas twice during the fight although the ref didn't see fit to give him a count.”

On the following day Ioan began brightly in his final against the strong and stocky Gokmen Gorgin (TVS Finland) who really roughed up the Welsh boy when he managed to get in close.

However, Ioan soon started catching Gokmen on the way in with crisp left hands and right jabs to take the fight on a split.

Garan was straight in after Ioan against an Afghan called Timor Hassani, boxing for Sweden.

This proved an action-packed bout from the start with Garan settling down quickly, landing one good early right hand which set the pace for the rest of the fight.

The Crymych schoolboy kept Timor at bay with a lovely selection of jabs, hooks and right hands to win the fight by a unanimous decision and complete a double gold triumph for Cardigan.

*Cardigan ABC schoolboy Mikey O'Sullivan beat Ben Holland (Cwmcarn ABC) on a split decision at Blackwood's Maes Manor Hotel last week.