Steven Cairns: Huge 2025 ahead for youngster backed to be massive future star of Irish boxing
Steven Cairns is preparing for a big year ahead after ending 2024 with another impressive knockout win
As Paul Heaton performed next door, an Irish prospect who is being backed to go all the way to the top took his professional record to a Perfect 10 in Liverpool last month.
The Housemartins and Beautiful South frontman was singing live at the city's M&S Bank Arena as Steven Cairns scored the sixth knockout of his career to move to 10-0 as a pro at the nearby Exhibition Centre in what was his third bout on Merseyside.
The Cork native has had quite the start to the pro ranks, fighting in the likes of Spain, Germany and Denmark, as well as Uzbekistan, brilliantly delivering sickening body shots everywhere he goes.
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Last year saw the 22-year-old sign a promotional deal with Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions and make his Irish debut, landing a savage first round knockout in under a minute at Belfast's SSE Arena back in June.
He then went six rounds with Argentinian Ezequiel Gregores at York Hall in September before recording another impressive KO in the third round over Jamie Stewart on December 6.
The Stoke fighter hadn't been stopped in 15 previous bouts, including against Florian Marku.
And the youngster, who is being backed to become one of Ireland's biggest boxing stars, is ready to push on to bigger and better things in 2025 as he aims to win his first belt as a pro.
"2025 is going to be massive," said Cairns. "I wanted to step up to eight rounds in 2024 but through no fault of my own it couldn't happen but this year we'll be stepping up and I want to fight for a belt.
"I think I'm ready now. I'm maturing every time I go into the ring, I feel more comfortable in the ring and I believe I'm one of the best 135 pound prospects.
"A youth world title is a good belt to start to get your ranking with the WBC or WBO, whatever it is, as a stepping stone because obviously I'm still young, I'm only 22. There's no rush, but as an amateur when you're winning national titles all the time and all that, I want to win a title as a pro.
"So first pro title hopefully this year, well not hopefully without a doubt it's going to be this year and 2025 is going to be huge."
Cairns is coached by the well-respected Rotherham-based Dave Coldwell, who was in Tony Bellew's corner as he became the WBC world cruiserweight champion at Goodison Park in 2016.
Coldwell believes Cairns has the potential to become a world champion, but is in no rush for him to get to the top level given how young he is.
"As long as I'm allowed to develop him, I want to develop him, I really think he's going to be a star of Irish boxing - like the star," said Coldwell. "He's going to be one that everyone gets out there and supports.
"He's a young kid. That's why I don't want to rush him. We're in an era where if people see a good prospect they want them to get to the top as quickly as possible but how many of them actually get to the top or how many of them get to the top and stay at the top for a long duration?
"A lot of them are like a star that shines bright but short whereas with him I think he's this kid where because he's so intelligent, his IQ is getting better and better all the time.
"I've always said that. People talk about his body punching, his physical strength but the reason why he's doing what he's doing is because his IQ is developing constantly.
"My gym is not just about crash, bang, wallop. We're learning in that gym and his IQ is just increasing and increasing. He's only going to get better."
Carl Frampton is another who thinks Cairns could be the man to really fly the flag for Irish boxing over the coming years.
Speaking after watching him go six rounds with Gregores, the former two-weight world champion said on BT Sports: "The sky's the limit for this kid and I think that Ireland is crying out for a big star at the minute. We're missing that big kind of boxing star.
"I know we can talk about Kellie Harrington and Katie Taylor, but Kellie's retired, Katie's coming to the end of her career, Mick Conlan has not had the best run recently so Ireland's crying out for a big name and it could be this kid."
The praise meant a lot to Cairns, who grew up in awe of the Belfast man's heroics in the ring, having travelled up from Cork to watch 'The Jackal' in action.
"I grew up watching Carl Frampton and I can show you photos of me and him when I was literally seven years old going to his fights," he explained.
"For him to be commentating on my fight and saying that he thinks I could be Ireland's next best thing is just amazing and it gives me more motivation to keep pushing myself in the gym.
"I always push myself in the gym but hearing those little things off someone like Carl, who I believe is one of Ireland's best ever boxers, it makes me think how far I've come and where I'm going to go."
Nicknamed 'The Irish Takeover', Cairns is hoping to get back in the ring early this year with fight news expected to be announced soon.
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