The Weoley Castle fighter is aiming for a stadium fight and a world title opportunity
Connor Tierney, pictured with Blues owner Tom Wagner, is aiming for a stadium fight next year(Image: Connor Tierney)
Like his beloved Birmingham City, bare-knuckle fighter Connor Tierney is ‘heading in the right direction’.
Back-to-back bouts against Jonny Graham and Danny Christie have propelled the Weoley Castle favourite one step closer to his dream.
The current UK welterweight champion for BKFC, Tierney is hoping a third successive win results in a world title opportunity at St Andrew’s.
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A stadium showdown would bring boxing purists back to when Henry Cooper defeated Johnny Prescott at the football ground in 1965.
With a world title opportunity on the horizon, the Bluenose believes a bare-knuckle stadium show would be ‘even bigger’ than Cooper’s famous win.
Bare knuckle fighter Connor Tierney spoke to Birmingham Live ahead of his headline fight next month for BKFC(Image: Martin O’Callaghan / Birmingham Live)
Speaking to BirminghamLive, Connor said: “I think the club knows about me and I’ve met Tom Wagner now. It’s all heading in the right direction and formulating to a stadium show.
“The better I get, and more I’m associated with the club, I think they are keeping an eye and thinking ‘this kid could probably headline St Andrew’s’.
“It’s all about manifestation and I think it’s a reality now than a dream. For me, this would be a life achievement.
“Looking at previous boxers, Frankie Gavin, Wayne Elcock and Galal Yafai, all big with the city and club but never got to headline St Andrew’s stadium. This is something I feel I could do.
Connor Tierney in action against Jeremiah Riggs(Image: Nick Vespe/PA Real Life)
“To do that, but in bare knuckle fighting, it shows how far I’ve come. It would be the biggest combat sports event in Birmingham and even bigger than the Henry Cooper fight.
“After my last fight, 80% of people I spoke to said that was the most entertaining night of fighting they’ve seen for a long time in Birmingham.
“I want people to pick Connor Tierney shows over boxing and MMA events because there’s knockouts, blood, brutality and faster action.”
Retaining his job as a quantity surveyor, Tierney retains quality inside the ring, but isn’t quitting his day job.
He added: “I want to work, My job helps to take me away from the reality of fighting.
“I’m not sure about the longevity of my career. I’m 31 now and missing a lot of family time at the minute.
“I don’t want to be waiting until I’m 38 and a lot of things can happen in the next few years.
“For now, this is my opportunity to create a legacy by fighting on the pitch at St Andrew’s.”