Ralph Evans

Ralph Evans (born 20 December 1953) is a Welsh former boxer. He represented Great Britain at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, reaching the semi-final before losing to György Gedó. He received the bronze medal for the event, becoming the first Welsh boxer to win an Olympic medal. His performance was also the best finish by a Welsh boxer at an Olympic games for 40 years until it was surpassed in 2012.

He chose to retire after the tournament, becoming a coach for his brother Wayne during his professional boxing career.

Early life Ralph Evans was one of six children born in Tonypandy, South Wales, to parents Gwynfor and Jean Evans (née Powell). The family lived in Rosehill Terrace in Gilfach Goch until Evans was seven before moving to Waterlooville, Hampshire, near Portsmouth.

Career Evans' father was a former youth and miners' boxing champion and his uncle Gordon had owned Tonypandy Boxing Club.

Evans was chosen to represent Wales at the 1971 European Amateur Boxing Championships in Madrid. He met Italian Franco Udella, losing a controversial split 3–2 decision despite knocking down his opponent five times during the bout.

1972 Summer Olympics Evans met Abrams again in an eliminator for a place at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich. Evans avenged his previous defeat by winning on points at the Double Diamond Club in Caerphilly but the victory proved unpopular with some authorities who had lined up Abrams as the captain of the British Boxing team at the event. A rematch was ordered only for Evans to win again, this time after Abrams suffered a cut over his eye.

Evans dominated Chilean Héctor Velásquez in the second round, claiming a 5–0 points victory in a performance that was described as "the purest boxing exhibition of the tournament." He repeated the feat in the quarter-final by defeating Chanyalew Haile of Ethiopia, His victories earned him a semi-final fight against Hungarian György Gedó. Evans was defeated by Gedó who proved too strong for the Welshman, opening a cut in Evans' mouth during the bout. His performance remained the best finish by a Welsh boxer at the Olympics for 40 years, until the 2012 Summer Olympics where Fred Evans won a silver medal.

Later life Despite being described as possessing "a most promising future" by The Guardian in the immediate aftermath of his Olympic defeat, Evans chose to retire from boxing soon after the tournament at the age of 19. He fought only once more, stepping in at late notice when a fighter pulled out of an event organised by his father's boxing club. Evans later worked at the club, coaching his younger brother Wayne during his professional career which culminated in a British bantamweight title defeat to Johnny Owen in 1978.