Jake Dodd clinches Commonwealth Games quarter-final berth

Former inline skater Jake Dodd is now donning his skates in and out of the ring after booking his place in the quarter-finals of the Commonwealth Games.

Wrexham flyweight Dodd dispatched Lesotho’s Retselisitsoe Kolobe in a hurry with a second-round stoppage in his first fight in Birmingham before revealing he is also pressed for time in his personal life.

Plumber Dodd, 27, who is one of more than 1,100 elite athletes in the world-class program funded by Britain’s National Sports Lottery, allowing them full-time training, access to best trainers in the world and to benefit from cutting-edge technology, science and medical support, only started boxing seven years ago after first entering a gym because all his friends had stopped going to the skatepark.

And having hopefully bagged gold for Wales here, Dodd plans to return home to complete a bathroom in time to go on vacation with his girlfriend, presumably to avoid her saying “see you later” to the ex-skateboarder.

Dodd, who fights young Northern Irishman Clepson Paiva on Thursday, said: “Nothing is easy at this stage so stopping him in the second round is great for my confidence.

“I thought the referee stopped him at the right time because he was injured and I was taking control.

“Gold has to be my ambition. I know I have the skills, so it’s about going out there and proving it at the highest level.

“A lot of fighters talk about a good match, but it’s how you save it that counts.

“I have a 10-day toilet to do the day after the end of the Games. I’m leaving here and returning to work on August 9th and leaving with my girlfriend on vacation to Rhodes on August 19th so I’m on a strict schedule.

“I better do it cause I need a vacation and so does the girlfriend.”

And in Monday night’s final fight, promising light heavyweight Taylor Bevan continued on his collision course for the podium with a second successive stoppage.

The 21-year-old said he was in “great form” after making light work of Samoa’s Jancen Poutoa to book his place in the quarter-finals.

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Bevan, who qualifies for Wales through his mother and splits his time between Hampshire and Cardiff, was well supported by the NEC crowd and admitted he needed to calm his nerves before putting on place what will surely be a tougher test against Jamaican Jerone Ennis on Thursday.

He said: “I couldn’t have asked for more than two saves in two fights. I am in good shape. None of my fights have been tiring.

“I was a little nervous but not as much as in my first fight. I felt pretty relaxed once the fight started. It comes with experience.

“I’m here for the gold medal. He’s a tough Jamaican next. He’ll be a tough opponent, there’s no doubt about it.

Elsewhere in weightlifting, Christie Williams was proud to pull a rabbit out of the hat to claim her second consecutive seventh-place finish at the Commonwealth Games.

In her third Games, Williams was staring after failing on her first two clean and jerk attempts in the women’s 64kg competition.

However, Williams – who was born in Merthyr Tydfil – finally came to the party with a 100kg lift with her final lift which took her to a more than respectable total of 183kg.

The 29-year-old said: “Being seventh and only having done one clean and jerk, I think is pretty special.

“Making the last one after missing two is an amazing achievement, I’m incredibly proud of myself for doing that. Forward and more.

Williams’ veteran teammate Faye Pittman, 39, improved her Gold Coast result four years ago by one after taking ninth place in the women’s 71kg.

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