That is according to boxing development officer Mandy Hobart, who travelled to Glasgow 2026 alongside head coach Ben Duff, plus first-time Commonwealth Games competitors Tommy Teers and Niall Adams. Adams even came within one win of a medal.
Billy Le Poullain had been Guernsey’s only representative in the ring at the two previous Games, but Hobart highlighted how inspiring both debutants have been, sparking hopes of doubling the team size again for India.
She is now appealing for support so that competitors can build up vital international experience.
‘We’ve realised that our boxers are at such a good standard,’ she said.
‘But for them to go that much further, to bring medals home, we need to get them off-island to Box Cups and international competitions in Europe.
‘We need funding to get behind our boys, to hopefully in India 2030 bring back a medal.
‘There’s no reason why not. We’re heading for that and hopefully by then the team will be three or four boxers, and it’s just growing and growing.
‘We’ve got lots more kids coming up now off the back of Niall and Tommy’s performance and boxing is really hitting the steam.’
Adams had looked impressive in outpointing Sri Lanka’s Ravindu Jayanath 4-1 in his opening bout of the men’s 60kg, which proved an interesting clash of styles with the Sarnian boxing aggressively on the front foot and his opponent trying to use his longer range.
But Namibia’s Tryagain Morning Ndevelo proved a notch above in the quarter-finals.
There was no shame in losing to 2024 African champion Ndevelo, though, and especially as he went on to claim silver on a 3-2 split decision against the world No 5 in the weight class – India’s Sachin Sachin.
Hobart also highlighted how recently Adams had returned to training after a long lay-off.
‘He came back to boxing about eight months ago,’ she said.
‘Imagine if he hadn’t missed those four years, where he would be.
‘His achievement was just amazing and it’s really fired him up for carrying on for the next four years and seeing where he can be in India.’
Guernsey Amalgamated Boxing Club head coach Duff also praised the performances of both competitors.
‘The Commonwealth Games were a great experience for everyone involved, and both Niall and Tommy gained valuable experience from their international debuts,’ he said.
Although 55kg boxer Teers lost his opening contest, feeling the sting of a first-round points deduction against Kiribati’s Eriu Temakau, Duff reflected: ‘It was a good performance and Tommy can take many positives away from his experience.’
The experienced coach praised Adams’ ‘cracking left hook’ in the first 15sec. against Ndevelo and felt the bout was closer than the unanimous decision suggests.
That his opponent so narrowly missed the gold further testified to Adams’ own quality.
‘This demonstrates the level of boxers Niall has competed with, and more than held his own with, during the competition,’ Duff added.
‘This has given him the belief and experience to progress further in the sport, and we’re looking forward to seeing how he does over the next season.’
