Calne boxer targeting British title after winning first belt

Gray fought Issa Maneva for the Commonwealth Silver Super Lightweight Title and maintained his undefeated 12-0 record via a unanimous decision.

Having earned his first belt, Gray has his sights set on a step up to a British title fight as he continues his ascent up the ranks.

His coach Liam Lathbury said: “It has been brilliant to watch as he has been training with us since he was 13 years old and now 12 years later he can call himself the Commonwealth Silver Super Lightweight champion, it is a great achievement for him and for the gym.

“It just shows what a credit he is to himself for sticking with it and staying focused on improving.

“People thought it was a close fight, but I thought Connor dominated it, we knew Maneva was a good fighter, he has had a few knockouts and won his last nine fights, so it was all about being calm and disciplined to make sure we took that belt away.

“It has been a great story as he has had a bit of a tough life and to see him turn from a little kid into a young man with a great attitude and then to achieve one of his dreams was fantastic.

“I have always thought he was better than people realised and the world is his oyster now, the plan was to get an undefeated record and a belt and now we are in the realms of talking about a British title and hopefully that comes along soon.”

Gray was also able to win the belt as the headline event at MECA in Swindon on a Neilson Boxing event and Lathbury said it was special for Gray to be able to win in front of a local crowd.

He said: “It is going to be another jump to the next level, but he has done the right thing, he has built a big following, and a lot of people are coming to watch him.

“He has got a good fan base and if he continues to work hard and spar with the right people then we can keep him moving.

“It is amazing [to be able to fight in Swindon], he has built that following to where people will ring up to ask when he’s fighting.”