Welsh boxer Rosie Eccles to target 2026 Commonwealth Games

“I’m probably still struggling to be honest with the way things turned out,” said Eccles.

“It’s so hard, when you’re going out there to get gold or at least bring home a medal and come home with nothing in the circumstances that it happened, it was definitely tough.

“I think in sport sometimes someone just has a better day than you and you’ve got to be able to just suck that up, but that wasn’t the case this time. I felt that I never really got going or got to show my best, I didn’t have my shot at a medal, let alone gold.

“The support I’ve had from Welsh Boxing has been incredible. I’ve really struggled, but they’ve provided amazing support for me.”

Former Olympic and Commonwealth champion Lauren Price turned professional following glory at the re-scheduled Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

Less than three years later and Price is now Wales’ first female world champion boxer, but Eccles says she has no desire of turning professional, as she prepares to create Welsh boxing history of her own.

“People have always asked me about going professional because of my style, I can punch. I’ve only ever had two real dreams and that’s the Commonwealth Games and the Olympics,” added Eccles.

“I said I’d never put a glove on again, I’ve come back around now and I’m not quite done yet. I’m going to set my sights on the next Commonwealth Games, no one has ever won a third medal for Wales in boxing.

“That will definitely be my last Commonwealth Games, but until then let’s keep going and if my body’s done then it’s done, but if it’s got more, let’s squeeze what I can get out of it.

“If I did walk away I think I’d always have a regret and I’d be asking myself what if? To finish like that would not be a nice way to walk away from sport.

“Even if I don’t go out the exact way I want, I just want to give that little more of what’s left in me, especially for Wales.”