More pressure for semi-pro title clash claims pro debutant McAfee

Stephen McAfee makes his pro debut on the stacked ‘Celtic Clash 2: The Rising’ card tomorrow, but isn’t feeling the pressure.

Indeed he claims there was more pressure the last time he stepped into the ring, as a semi-pro

The Sallynoggin welterweight was fighting for the right to become the first ever semi pro champion of Ireland, but more important than the trinket was fighting a local rival, Karl Kelly, in a clash that captured the imagination of The Noggin. 

As a result he is feeling relatively relaxed ahead of his clash with Polish journeyman Marcin Ficner.

“This is different to semi pro as it is the real thing. But in the semi pro there was a bit of publicity because I was fighting a local lad so the whole community was involved. It made it bigger and more exciting and it was good to fight in an atmosphere like that.”

“There was more pressure, but I dealt with it fine,” the former kickboxer told Irish-Boxing.com ahead of his short-notice debut

“The semi pro experience will help out. It can only be good to have it behind me. I bring ticket selling experience in too. I had to sell 30, but I did 60. I had a feel of that side from the semi pro.”

The Dubliner, trained by Jonathan Lewins, previously told Irish-Boxing.com he was ready made for the pro ranks, but the short notice nature of this scrap makes him suggest fans may have to wait to see him at his peak.

“I only got asked to be on the show three weeks out and I said yes, I wasn’t turning a chance to be on this show down. I was ticking over, but I did promise myself a better camp for my debut.”

“I’ll be ready on the night that is the main thing and then in my second fight people will see improvements.”

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)

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