Boxing is a tough sport. Watching a couple of 11-year-olds at an amateur event in Newbridge emphasised the fact but there is a sense of controlled mayhem in the ring and at the end a respect toward the opponent and the referee. The elation is there for the winner and the disappointment for the loser. They shake hands and climb out of the ring to hugs and euphoria from parents and friends.
I have been covering boxing for more years than I care to remember going back to the early 80’s when I documented the rise of David Pearce. It was the Newport Rocky story as he rose to the dizzy height of British Heavyweight Champion beating Neville Meade in Cardiff in 1983. Watching the YouTube video of the fight recently, there I am in the corner working with my camera covering the fight for my university major story (Look out for the book ‘ Yuckers Year ‘ near Christmas 2022). Steve Robinson then became the focus before Joe Calzhage took to the centre of the ring. It was a great time for Welsh boxing with some of the biggest fights coming to Cardiff, no bigger than Bruno v Lewis. I have never stepped into a ring - just peered through the ropes with a camera - so I am no expert in the dark arts of boxing but sometimes there is an instinct when you see talent. A feeling that you are watching skill beyond the age and experience.
Through a chance meeting, that is how it felt when seeing 18 year old Patrick Bilongo for the first time. Patrick is born and bred in Cameroon and we met in St Joseph’s Boxing Club, Newport late 2021. I was there looking for stories for Africa Welsh News and as if by fate I was introduced to Patrick. I was told he had won his first fight and I immediately thought of the headline - One fight; One win. I hadn’t even seen Patrick with gloves on. “I came to Newport when I was 11 years old to live with my father and attended St Joseph’s High School” says Patrick, “I have always been sporty and played everything I could. My father encouraged me, he wanted me to stay fit, and I played football, rugby, baseball and even tried athletics. I still play for Newport City in the Welsh Football League but boxing has taken over. Boxing started when I was in school but it was never serious then.
“But when I was in the first year of college I had to think, and decided during lockdown to attend St Joseph’s Boxing Club. The trainers needed to see if I was going to be serious and give it my all as they seemed to think I had talent, so I turned up every day. They could see a style in the beginner that they felt they could improve. “I wanted to improve and Vargo, my trainer is not just into the physical side of boxing but also the mental battle in the ring. He wants to get to know the inside as well as the outside and has been a massive influence. “Before my first fight I was terrified. I couldn’t even move my legs in the dressing room but managed to overcome the nerves and get a good result”.
Bouts one; wins one. But the story took a negative turn second time out. A fighter from Gloucester came to battle and took him by surprise. His opponent rushed in and had fast left-right continuous combinations in a short pitter-patter style. No power in his punches but the first two rounds gave Patrick a style problem and his opponent built up a healthy points lead. In the third round Patrick found an answer and he hit the Englishman with venom forcing an 8 count. With just a little more
time the result could have been reversed. He had found an answer, though too late for the result. Bouts two wins one loss one. “It may seem strange but I am glad it happened”, says Partick. “It was a good learning experience and has given me the motivation not to have that feeling again. I go to the gym every day and then work out in my garden working on moves learned”.
“We have great practitioners at St Joseph’s, some professional and even a University Champion and the sparring is first class. I have only had three fights but the more experienced boxers are shocked that I am still so inexperienced, they think I am better than that. “I think I have a Cuban style but my timing is not as good as it should be. I watch the Cubans on YouTube and study the style. I try to learn from every way possible”. The one noticeable aspect of Patrick’s style in my uneducated eye is it is more advanced from the frantic amateur. There is a more cultured approach with his stance and balance. To me he looks a raw professional, not a novice amateur.
Patrick’s third fight was in Newbridge against a tall lanky southpaw from the Llanedeyrn & Pentwyn club. This didn’t worry him as a
regular sparring partner at St Joseph’s is southpaw and he is one of the best. “Even some of the pro’s use him”, says Patrick and it showed. From the first bell to the last he dominated his opponent, putting him on the back foot with skilled boxing and heavy blows when he had the chance. It was a boxing masterclass for this stage of his career and he won on a majority decision. He left the ring to the acclaim of his attending supportive father and friends. Bouts three; wins two - loss one.
“I am now 120% serious”, he states. “The backing and advice from the trainers and the support of my father have given me the confidence. I train every day, 4 or 5 sessions a week in the gym, running and practice in the garden. I have a Sunday as a day of rest”. “I fight at light heavyweight, 80 kilos, and see that as my perfect
weight but turning professional is a long way down the road. I have ambition but no timetable, no deadline.
To become Welsh Amateur Champion is first, then the British and to go onto Commonwealth is the aim. But I have to turn pro at the right time and I have a lot of work and improving to do to get there”. “I just want to enjoy what I am doing and let the success take care of itself. I am determined and have a professional outlook. I am confident. The only payment is work your socks off. Nobody has forced me into boxing. I just want to make my family proud. St Joseph’s Boxing Club is also like a family and I also want to make them proud but I don’t want to lose what I have and knowing best friends Pierre and Jayden are there for me as I am for them is special to me. We are close and contribute to each other’s dreams and life goals”. “I go to the club and I learn as much from watching and listening then I go home and use the garden to put that into practice. I never stop but that’s the way to improve. You have to do the improving outside the ring to progress in it”.
“When we are sparing I make mistakes and the coaches Abs, Dai, Roger and Vargo will ask ‘you know what you did wrong?“ I learn from them, they show me and I answer ‘Yeah’ and we move on. They push and guide me and I am so thankful to them, they have confidence in me and I have faith in them and my ability. One step at a time but with my ambition I will get there”.
