He was a successful amateur boxer and represented Wales in several tournaments, but after being passed over for the European Under-21 Championship he turned professional.

His career as a featherweight progressed well, losing just one of his first 19 fights, the majority of them being fought at the National Sporting Club in London.

During this period he also recorded the first draw of his career, when he fought Dennis Flynn at the Empire Pool as an undercard fight to the José Nápoles vs Ralph Charles WBA World Welterweight contest.

On his return to Britain, Waith entered a lightweight eliminator contest for a shot at the British title, facing Doncaster based fighter Howard Hayes at York Hall in London.

[1] Waith had struggled with maintaining his weight, a factor that affected his entire career, and by 1973 he was turning out as a lightweight, beating Paul Bromley by points at the Top Rank Suite in Swansea.