Cyrus Pattinson knows how to win, whether that’s inside or, especially, outside the ring.
The 32-year-old is to box for the WBO European welterweight belt on Saturday’s August 1, when he takes on Willy Gilheaney in Newcastle.
It is one half of an England v Wales championship double header, with Bobby Dalton meeting Ben Crocker for the WBO inter-continental title in the same division.
No-one in boxing, with the notable exception of Gilheaney and the unbeaten Welshman’s family, friends and fans, would begrudge Pattinson his moment of glory this weekend at the Vertu Motors Arena on the world-famous Scotswood Road in the Toon.
Pattinson, as has been well documented, spent over a year out of boxing between 2023-24 after recovering from an eye problem.
Patience, determination and his faith in God brought him out of the dark days and into the light of the exciting Northumberland southpaw’s second part of his career.
He thrilled Channel 5’s boxing audience with wins over Andrei Antonov and Joe Garside in Newcastle before stoppage victories in ugly battles against Jose Maria Pombo and Tunde Adeyemi.
Success in his WBO European welterweight title confrontation with the 29-year-old, from Llansamlet near Swansea, could open doors so where does the Alnwick man see himself in a year or two year’s time?
“Winning fights, winning titles, being on big shows and making as much money as I can before I retire,” the Billy Nelson-trained boxer told punch-lines. “There is a lot of life left in me yet.
“But I do like to take things one fight at a time.
“I don’t really want to jinx anything by talking about what might be next.
“I’ve got a job to do on Saturday first and that’s going to get done.”
Saturday’s contest is his fifth in the comeback.
The crowd pleaser with an overall 10-1 record knows just how important it is he is to get those big, money-making opportunities.
You get the impression those weeks and months out when he couldn’t train and had to wear an eye-patch have seen him develop an inner steel which makes him even stronger on fight night.
“It was touch and go,” admitted Cyrus who is motivated by success on Saturday and what it might bring.
“There was a lot of blood, sweat and tears, especially tears.
“I felt I lost my identity and it was one of the hardest periods of my life.
“But I showed a lot of resilience and now I’m back on the big stage.
“I love belts, winning them is fantastic and they are either in my grandad’s room in his care home or under my settee.
“You get a great feeling in the moment when you win them, but now it’s about financial security and trying to make my future as best as I can.”
Standing in his way is Gilheaney, the champion of Wales, who has won all six of his professional contests, two inside the distance.
He clinched the vacant Welsh middleweight title last time out 12 months ago when he put down Cardiff’s Carvell Crocker twice in Neath where he stopped him in round six.
Gilheaney has had to come down just over eight pounds since that night in South Wales but if he brings that power with him it makes for a dangerous assignment.
“He’s had a fantastic start to his career,” said Cyrus. “Willy’s a great fighter.
“We spoke when we had an interview and seems like a great lad too.
“But I feel like I’m tried and tested
“I’ve had pretty much every experience that a fighter can have – I’ve headlined, I’ve won things, I’ve been in wars, I’ve been dropped, I’ve been beaten.
“I’ve been there and done it so all that stands me in good stead for Saturday night.
“I feel I’ll have that little bit too much for him.”
Both championship bouts look crackers while Jobes Boxing have assembled some of the North-East’s finest and most exciting talent on the undercard, in alphabetical order, Josh Babb, Josh Blenkiron, Nathan Cummiskey, Sophia Maycroft, Joe Miller, Owen Rees and Lee Rogers.
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Jennifer Charlton
