Garan and Eoin Croft: Welsh boxers’ pair of goals

“We’ve always wanted to get the better of each other,” says Welsh boxer Garan Croft, turning to his training partner.

Garan is bigger than his training partner – a minute older, in fact.

With identical twin brother Ioan as his training partner, the 24-year-old is pushing each other to achieve success.

“Whether we’re running, on an assault bike or vertical climbing – we want to beat each other,” adds Garan.

“We sometimes have to fall apart in quarrels.

“We’re twins, we’ve always been competitive, ask our parents.”

“But it’s a great asset to have in a training partner.”

The two would never fight each other – Ian is a middleweight and Garan is a super-welterweight.

Matchroom Sport chairman Eddie Hearn described them as “two talented young fighters” after signing with the promoters in February this year.

they are Both won in their Matchroom debuts in April – Ioan defeated Serbia’s Novak Radulovic before seeing off England’s Marco Simmonds.

“It’s great to have that support from Matchroom,” says Ioan.

“It’s everything we’ve ever really worked towards. It gives us that platform to show how good we are.”

“Our debut with the Matchroom was fantastic here in Manchester and we’re looking forward to our next one.

“Earlier, when we didn’t have matchroom support, we would walk out of the ring and not know what was going to happen next.

“Now it’s good to have that path ahead of us over the next few years and it gives us that real incentive to work a little bit harder.”

For Garon as well, signing up with Matchroom gives him and Ion the possibility of fighting for the title in the near future.

“Any young boxer wants to be in that moment,” Garan said of his long-term contract with Matchroom.

“The opportunities are huge – that’s what people know and that’s what people are seeing these days.

“I believe with their support we can bring the big night of boxing back to Wales.

“It will be amazing and a dream come true. That’s the goal.”