Eilish Tierney believes she will be crowned world champion before teammate Fabio Wardley
Super featherweight Eilish Tierney (1-0) claims that she will win world honours before her stablemate Fabio Wardley, after making her professional debut at the York Hall last Saturday.
The 25-year-old won all four rounds of her first contest in the paid ranks, beating her durable opponent, Sheree Barnes, at British boxing’s iconic venue in Bethnal Green, London.
With a title shot firmly on her radar, the Ipswich bomber looks to accelerate her professional development.
Speaking to BBC Sport, Tierney said: “The win was absolutely incredible; the whole event was mental. It still doesn’t feel real.
“It was a real bucket-list moment to fight down at York Hall and make my debut there.
“I am still a baby boxer, but I achieved everything I wanted to at white collar and felt comfortable turning pro. There’s no better time than the present.
“I 100% know I’ll be world champion in a few years, and I know this is what I will do until I can’t do it anymore.
“I have the skillset and the abilities behind me, and I 100% will be a world champion in the next few years, way before Fabio Wardley.”
Having cut her teeth primarily on the white collar circuit, Tierney represents a small minority of British fighters turning professional with little to no experience boxing in amateur tournaments.
However, training alongside British heavyweight champion Wardley – who turned pro after just a handful of white collar fights – she finds herself in familiar company.
Tierney initially took up boxing to lose weight and, after shedding 32kg, she decided to make the sport her life.
Sparring with the likes of Nina Hughes and Ebanie Bridges – both campaigning in the divisions below – Tierney has mixed it with the very best, and believes that she has what it takes to go all the way.