Simon Vallily

In 2009, competing in the super heavyweight division, Vallily won the senior ABA title in Sheffield at the English Institute of Sport, beating Amin Isa 13-4. Despite touching the canvas himself, the victory included a knockdown of his opponent in the third round.

Speaking of the win and of the fact that he himself had taken a count, Vallily said, "Getting caught gave me a kick up the backside and got me going". Reflecting on the turnaround in his life since being sentenced to jail in 2006 Vallily said, "I've changed since those days and I'm an ABA champion now...All that is behind me and I don't like to look back - I was just a daft kid...I want to look to the future. I'm grown up now and more focused and this is just the start".[5] On 13 November 2010, Vallily was crowned the Great Britain champion after defeating experienced rival Danny Price 4-3 in the tournament held in Liverpool's Echo Arena and televised by the BBC.[6]

Vallily was part of the England team that competed at the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi. Picked at the 91kg Heavyweight category, Vallily fought his way to the final, defeating Dominic Winrow of the Isle of Man in the first round, Arsene Foukou of Cameroon in the quarter-finals and gaining a walkover against Awusone Yekeni of Ghana in the semifinals.[7]

In the final he claimed the gold medal with a first round stoppage over Northern Ireland's Steven Ward after knocking him to the canvas, having quickly established a 6-1 lead. Speaking of Vallily's performance, coach Rob McCracken said "He's frighteningly good. We've got two years to work with him and there's a real possibility he could win the Olympics".[2]