‘Boxing will always be in my veins’: Dan Pitt on Glasgow, injury and his next chapter at Cardiff Met

After representing Wales at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, Cardiff Met student and international boxer Dan Pitt has made the difficult decision to step away from the Elite Welsh Boxing programme as he turns his attention to recovering from a long-standing hand injury and completing the final year of his degree.

It marks a change of direction for an athlete who has spent the past two years competing at the highest level of amateur boxing, becoming a world champion and representing Wales on the Commonwealth stage.

But for Pitt, this is not necessarily the end of his competitive career.

“I’m not ruling anything out at this time as I’m still young enough to return to the ring,” he said. “The main factor for this decision would be the hand injury. If this could be successfully addressed then it is possible. I will wait and see what happens and take it one step at a time.”

Pitt underwent joint fusion surgery on his left hand in August 2025 and admits that the ambition of representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games often meant managing the injury while continuing to train and compete.

“Since having a joint fusion surgery on my left hand in August 2025, I have struggled to rehab the hand back to 100%,” he explained.

“With my main goal at the time being to represent Wales at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, pain in my hand often came second to training and competition.

“As the countdown to the Games grew close, and training and competition ramped up, my hand would often swell after heavy usage, causing pain and a lack of range of movement.”

With support from the Welsh Boxing medical team, Pitt was able to continue towards his Commonwealth goal, but the longer-term implications of the injury have ultimately contributed to his decision to step back from competitive boxing.

“I knew that I would have to take into consideration long-term risks that could occur if I did not take time to ensure I am fully healthy and pain free moving forward,” he said.

“Making the decision to step away from the Elite Welsh Boxing programme was very tough given the amount of time and dedication that I had put in to earn my place.

“However, I feel I took every opportunity and really made the most out of my time as a full-time athlete, and I leave the team with many great memories and experiences over the past two years.”

A Commonwealth Games ambition achieved

Among those memories is representing Wales at the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the culmination of an ambition built through years of training, competition and sacrifice.

“Representing Wales at the Commonwealth Games was the result of a culmination of years of hard work, not just on the elite programme, but sacrifices made from a young age,” said Pitt.

“That has enabled me to compete under our flag many times, in many different countries and competitions, including one of my career highlights, which was the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

“The support I received from all across Wales, including from other athletes who were competing for Wales in their respective sports, was immense, and it was an experience which I will remember for a very long time.”

His achievements also include making history on the world stage in 2024, when he became only the second Welsh boxer to win a world title at the Youth World Championships in Colorado.

Yet when Pitt reflects on his career so far, his pride extends beyond medals and titles.

“Becoming Wales’ second ever amateur world champion in boxing was definitely an achievement I am very proud to say I have accomplished,” he said.

“However, looking back at my boxing journey so far, I would say one of the things I am most proud of is how I have been able to be a role model for young people and an example of how anyone, through hard work and perseverance, can achieve more than they ever expected.”

Balancing international sport and university

Alongside his international boxing career, Pitt has continued his studies at Cardiff Metropolitan University as a recognised dual-career athlete.

The combination has not always been straightforward.

“Balancing elite-level boxing whilst studying for a degree has been no simple task, and has often required far more time and commitment than I had initially bargained for,” he said.

“Being recognised as a dual-career athlete by Cardiff Met has helped take some pressure off my shoulders, especially during times when I have been away competing or training in other countries and have had to put university further down my list of priorities.”

Pitt has also received support through TASS, the Talented Athlete Scholarship Scheme, helping him manage the competing demands of high-performance sport and higher education.

“Support from Cardiff Met and TASS has been vital in being able to juggle both elite international sport and being a full-time student,” he said.

“Being surrounded by students and lecturers alike who value sport and understand the commitments and daily sacrifices made to achieve sporting goals has made my time at Cardiff Met very enjoyable and rewarding.”

That dual-career pathway is particularly significant now.

With his final year including his dissertation and accounting for a substantial proportion of his final degree result, Pitt believes the time is right to give his studies his full attention.

“I’ve already noticed an increase in the workload, so I think it makes sense to focus, for what is really only a few months, on achieving the best degree result I can,” he said.

“Hopefully that will stand me well for whatever path I choose to take post university.”

Staying connected to Welsh boxing

Stepping away from the elite programme will not mean stepping away from the sport.

As part of his final-year studies, Pitt will undertake a work placement with Welsh Boxing, working with athletes on the same development pathway that once helped him progress towards international competition.

“I am grateful that Welsh Boxing have offered me the opportunity to work with the development squad, of which I was once a member, and will work on their strength and conditioning aimed at improving their performance in the ring,” he said.

He has also begun helping to coach the Cardiff Met Boxing Club, while continuing his involvement with his home club in Brecon.

Beyond coaching, Pitt serves on both the World Boxing Athletes Commission and World Boxing Ethics Committee, giving him an opportunity to contribute to the sport from a perspective beyond his own competitive career.

“I will always be grateful for what boxing has given me, from not only the competitive experiences such as the Commonwealth Games, but also the personal development I have gained,” he said.

“This would include the self-discipline of training at an elite level, media and event exposure, and my roles on the World Boxing Athletes and Ethics Committees where I am privileged to represent boxers from all over the world.

“To have these experiences has only been possible because of boxing and I know that I will continue to be involved whether I compete further or not.

“I have started to help coach the Cardiff Met boxing team and will always return to my home club in Brecon, so yes, boxing will always be in my veins!”

For other athletes considering whether university study can sit alongside the demands of elite sport, Pitt's experience has left him with a clear message.

“It is possible and support will be there from the university as they recognise the demands that elite sport has,” he said.

“I’m not saying that it won’t involve work and commitment from you, because it will, but the benefits far outweigh this, so go for it.”