A Streetwise kid to the bitter end Phillip Bowes is on a mission in Dehli to become the next boxing star.Despite being east London born and bred Bowes took the unusual decision to represent Jamaica at the Commonwealth Games which started last weekend.
The 25 year-old southpaw fighter, felt the only way he could pursue his dream of reaching the top of his game would be to swap the English flag for the yellow green and black of his parents’ homeland.Having got into the game at the tender age of four, he considers himself to be a future star of the sport.The unknown light-welterweight’s ambition is to emulate the feats experienced by Ricky Hatton, Junior Witter.With a firm eye on turning professional in the very near future, Bowes understands that a good showing in India could propel his chances.
Talking to the Voice of Sport, Bowes admits that he only really got serious about the sport two years ago.After British Boxing Board of Control licensed agent and manager and owner of Streetwise Management, Michael Amoo-Bediako, collared him and encouraged the talented fighter to knuckle down and focus.He said: “I fell in love with boxing when Mike Tyson was doing his thing, I even got my hair cut like him with the famous side parting.“I suppose I only started taking fighting seriously when I was twenty, up until then I had done a bit of kung-fu and taekwondo.“I’m at the best boxing club in London, Repton Boxing club. A lot of champions have come out of there and they have brought me on leaps and bounds, technique, mannerism, everything.“I want to go to the Commonwealth Games and see what boxing on the international level is truly like.
I’m confident in my skills and after that we will see.”Bowes’ decision to fight for Jamaica is down to him believing that his opportunities will be enhanced by representing the Caribbean country. It’s a feeling that is not uncommon within the amateur ranks in the UK.He said: “If I was younger I would have fought for my place on the England team but I want to be a world champion, that doesn’t come by sitting down and waiting, it comes by building your CV and getting international experience.
Fighting out of the Streetwise Management LA Gym Bowes is privy to the journey currently being experienced by Olympic gold medallist James DeGale.DeGale’s quest to be a world champion and his transition from amateur ranks to top professional are a valuable insight into what lies ahead for Bowes. It’s a path Bowes is looking forward to.He said: “De Gale works like a Trojan, he’s a machine and that is what all the champions do, so it’s good to see what he is doing.“But I don’t worry about anything because destiny has already been written. I just have to play my game.”
