“Boxing is the best ticket you can buy,” states Wales Commonwealth champion Rosie Eccles with a beaming smile. “The atmosphere is electric, so walking out into venues is just incredible and I know people in Glasgow can bring so much energy to help us form the fights of our lives!”

As a seasoned, major medal-winning athlete, the boxer is not someone who relies upon external support to achieve her goals, but she never-the-less welcomes any opportunity to perform in front of large crowds.

“The atmosphere was electric at Birmingham 2022, so walking out into venues like that is just incredible and I know people in Glasgow can bring so much energy to help us form the fights of our lives,” continues the fighter, often dubbed ‘right hand Rosie’.

While Eccles had long aspired to stand on top of the podium for Wales, as she did at the last edition of the Commonwealth Games after claiming the Light Middleweight crown, there were times when achieving feats of that nature felt like dreams, rather than realistic goals.

After making her Commonwealth Games debut at Gold Coast 2018 and claiming silver, she was determined to make her mark at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

However, she contracted Covid-19 four times, not only missing out on selection, but experienced some of the worst problems associated with the virus, which attacked her nervous system and left her in “intense” pain.

She lost 80% of function in her right arm and while Eccles was regaining strength by the time the Olympic qualification tournament came around, she would suffer an opening round defeat.

Many who had come so close would have distanced themselves from the Games altogether, Eccles instead, in a true showing of her character, returned to training and accepted the ‘sparring partner’ position for rival Lauren Price, who would go on to win gold for Team GB.

After claiming an “amazing” Commonwealth Games gold at Birmingham 2022, Paris 2024 was meant to represent her moment to achieve another lifetime goal, but what played out was nearer a nightmare.

“I knew I’d won the fight,” Eccles said at the time. “I’m really, really shocked.”

The decision by judges to hand a scorecard victory to Aneta Rygielska of Poland was met with boos in the arena, with BBC boxing broadcaster Steve Bunce stating he was “genuinely shocked” believing it was a “brutal” outcome for Eccles.

Fans were even stronger with their views across social media branding it a ‘disgrace’ and the boxer herself was so devastated by what played out, that the then 28-year-old made what she thought would be a career-defining – and career-ending – call.

“I made a decision after the massive disappointment of Paris that I was going to retire,” she recalls. “I was so gutted.”

She was adamant that decision would be final, but when it was announced that Glasgow would step in to replace the Australian state of Victoria as the host for the 2026 edition of the Commonwealth Games, a new plan emerged.

“The Commonwealth Games being so much closer pulled me back in because they have a massive place in my heart,” she admits.

“It’s the only time we really get to represent Team Wales at a multi-sport event and with the Welsh boxing team as well as the whole nation behind you, it’s just so incredibly special!”

The three-time European medallist feels her body “suits the style of the pro game,” but has no plans to head into the professional ranks, as Price did before her.

“My dream has always been the Olympics and the Commonwealth Games,” Eccles continues.

“I want to go all-out for that Commonwealth ‘trilogy’ and then the plan is LA(28), for hopefully that Olympic medal and then I’m going to retire, definitely.”

Women’s boxing made its Commonwealth Games bow at Glasgow 2014 and the sport has undergone an incredible transformation over the last 12 years.

At Glasgow 2026 there will be an equal number of medal opportunities for female and male boxers for the first time, with the strength-in-depth having also significantly improved, according to Eccles.

“It’s progressed no end,” she states enthusiastically. “The competition is fierce, fierce across the world and across the Commonwealth.

“I started boxing at 16, so I was only a year-to-18-months into my time (when Glasgow 2014 took place) and I already had some big goals, but to see that event on such a world stage was really important for me and other girls coming through.

“I’m a massive advocate when it comes to pushing the visibility of our sport and supporting the next generation, because if you see it, you believe you can do it too.”

The Commonwealth Games gold and silver medallists continues; “That’s what’s so special about Glasgow holding these Games. Everyone’s going to be out there on a big stage.

“I not only feel very fortunate that there’s going to be another ‘home Games’, okay, not in Wales, but it’s close. I know it will bring so many people together and just be magical!”

Source: CGF