Goya Dmytryshchak
A female boxer from Williamstown is waiting for her chance to take on the world.
Stephanie Mfongwot, 26, has always been a fighter but now she’s yearning for a different battle.
She and her family escaped violence in Cameroon to arrive in Australia in 2009.
Mfongwot moved to Melbourne in 2012, the same year she won her first national title representing the Northern Territory.
“The main reason [I moved] was for boxing because being in Darwin I was the only female boxing there,” she said.
While coronavirus has put her dreams on hold, she continues training towards her goal of giving something back to Australia by representing the country in boxing.
After more than 20 amateur fights and winning numerous titles, Mfongwot is turning professional.
She aims to fight Australian female middleweight champion and AFLW star Tayla Harris.
“Of course I want to because she’s got what I want, which is the Australian title,” Mfongwot said.
“I really want to fight her.”
For the past five months, Mfongwot has been living in Williamstown’s high rise public housing flats, which she says can be pretty rough.
She hopes boxing may offer a way to a better life.
“I believe that, I believe that,” Mfongwot said.
“Boxing is something that I enjoy doing, I love it.
“Since I’ve been doing boxing, I’ve found peace in my soul.
“I think I can make a living out of doing it.”
That would be putting it mildly, according to Williamstown’s Barry Michael.
Michael reached the pinnacle of his career by beating Lester Ellis for the IBF super featherweight world title in 1985.
But the late Melbourne gangster Alphonse Gangitano and his cohorts attacked Michael following his win, resulting in career-ending injuries.
So, he turned his hand to promoting.
Michael, who was brought up in commission flats in Williamstown 50-odd years ago, said he could relate to Mfongwot struggles.
“Boxing gets an unfair rap often but it helps so many people,” he said.
“She’s brilliant, she can be a female world champion.
“It’s not going to be easy to get opponents for her, there’s really no one from Australia who’s going to beat her.
“We’d love to fight Tayla Harris … we’re hoping to take on the best in Australia in Tayla Harris.”
Michael said while “the whole world is on hold” because of coronavirus, he was prepared to wait.
“Steph will turn professional as soon as we possibly can and this girl can go all the way,” he said.
“She can win a world title for Australia and that’s her goal.”
