By Oscar Cayo-Evans
WELSH boxing’s newest professional fighter has opened up on his journey to the paid ranks after winning his first bout.
Nathan Howells only had nine amateur jousts under his belt when he took on Mexico’s Christian Lopez Flores in Cardiff last Friday.
The Cardiff Vale Arena was packed with supporters eager to watch his long awaited debut – and they weren’t disappointed as took a well deserved 40-37 points decision.
Howells, 27, from Newport, has boxed from the age of 14 and reflected on his journey after the impressive win against Flores.
“If I’m brutally honest at first I didn’t like boxing,” he said.
“I used to say to my friends ‘why would you want to let someone punch you in the face?’. But then I tried it and I loved it.”
There was never any doubt Howells had talent, but he was in and out of boxing for many years.
He added: “My last amateur fight I was 60kg and after my time off I came back around 13 stone, I didn’t think I was ever going to box again!.”
Howells planned on starting his pro career two years prior to his debut on Friday, but the pandemic stopped him in his tracks.
“Before Covid struck I wanted to enter the Welsh (amateur championships) just for my own confidence more than anything but things didn’t go that way.
Newport's Nathan Howells (1-0) with a very well earned 40-37 decision win over Mexico’s Christian Lopez Flores (12-10-2, 10KO).
The speedy debutant made sure he had the first and last say in exchanges, before darting away to restart the process time after time. pic.twitter.com/w5tLSi7ar5
— BoxingWales 🏴 (@BoxingWales) October 8, 2021
“I sparred boys in the gym every day, boys like Joshua John who also boxed Friday night. He has 100 odd amateur fights himself so I got as good experience from sparring as I would’ve entering the Welsh.”
Howells’ opponent Flores had 12 wins, 10 by way of knockout, so this was not your average debut.
“I felt like it was a tough fight for my first fight, I felt a little tense and eager to get into a fight with him and didn’t move my head enough,” added Howells.
“Thankfully despite it being a bit of a scrap I came out with the win and felt like I deserved the win as well.”
Howells has been invited to compete at one show in November and one in December before the end of the year.
“I don’t want to enter too many fights in quick succession so I have the same atmosphere as I did Friday at every fight,” he said.
“I will speak to my manager and see what he thinks is best for me and if he believes I should do both I will.
“I’m always confident in my ability and will go as far as I can go, if that takes me to British level it takes me to British level. If it takes me further so be it.
“I’ll always go as long as I can go to the best of my ability.”
Howells is planning on extending his pro record to 3-0 before Christmas, which will put him in a good position to go on and compete for the Welsh professional title in future.