A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of a talented boxer and MMA fighter. Duane Keen, 47, was discovered with serious injuries and pronounced dead at an address in Riverside Drive, Blaenavon, in the early hours of October 17, last year.

Kai Pennell, 35, appeared at Cardiff Crown Court on Friday where he entered a plea of guilty to Mr Keen’s murder. He also pleaded guilty to destroying property, namely a white Suzuki Swift belonging to Rebecca Phillips.

The defendant denied an offence of making a threat to kill, but the prosecution will not be seeking a trial on that count. Don’t miss a court report by signing up to our crime newsletter here.

Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke, the recorder of Cardiff, remanded Pennell, of Riverside Drive, Blaenavon, in custody to appear for sentencing on February 24.

The judge told the defendant only a sentence of life imprisonment could be passed, but the minimum term needed to be set.

At the time of Mr Keen’s death witnesses reported seeing armed police and other officers arrive at Riverside Drive shortly after 2am, along with a police helicopter circling overhead. Paramedics, armed police and the Wales Air Ambulance were in attendance and the street was cordoned off.

Paying tribute, Mr Keen’s family said he was a great boxer and MMA all-rounder “with lots of belts to his name”. “He would help anyone who needed it and was always at the end of a phone,” they said.

“He loved being with his dogs and out walking with them. He would help anyone who needed it and was always at the end of a phone.

“Duane will be greatly missed by all his family and friends. There are no words to express what we as a family are going through. Duane, you were a champ in the ring, but you were the biggest champ to us.”

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