Stephen McAfee aims to continue breakthrough year with all-Irish win

Stephen McAfee has been making big statements since Day One, and now the Sallynoggin super feather is ready to reap the rewards.

McAfee [2(2)-0] has scored two big knockouts in his first two fights, and tomorrow night goes into an all-Irish fight with the promise of a title shot should he win.

The Dubliner takes on Cork’s Colin O’Donovan [1(1)-1(1)] on the big ‘Celtic Clash 4’ card at the National Stadium, and the winner of the six round contest will secure a shot at the vacant BUI Celtic super featherweight title next year.

It’s a startling ascent for the former kickboxer and semi-pro fighter who turned over earlier this year to little fanfare.

“I would use the word shocked before happy,” he told Irish-Boxing.com as he reflected on his rapid rise.

“To be honest I wasn’t expecting to have this many fights in such a short space of time. I had my first fight in May and if someone would have said I’d have three fights before the year ended I wouldn’t have believed them.”

Marcin Ficner was sent down again and again, Attila Horvath was hospitalised with broken ribs, McAfee has attracted attention with his displays.

It’s been a conscious decision to stand out, and the 26 year old described how “I did do my best to make sure promoters wanted me back.”

“No one really knew me, so I always planned to stand out and make them remember me. It seems to have paid off.”

Against O’Donovan he faces his toughest foe yet, and McAfee is eager for a hard fight.

The 26 year old described how “I want rounds. I feel I need them. I will make sure I get four rounds in first.”

“My plan is to get a stoppage in the fifth or sixth. I want rounds more than anything to be honest but I want the stoppage too.”

“Every fight is getting bigger. Hopefully it keeps going that way.”

Photo Credit: Laszlo Geczo Photography