Connor Tierney, the bare-knuckle fighter from Weoley Castle, is steadily punching his way towards a landmark event at St Andrews stadium, much like his beloved Birmingham City football team moving in the right direction. Fresh off back-to-back victories over Jonny Graham and Danny Christie, Tierney is now one step closer to his ultimate goal: a world title fight staged in Birmingham’s iconic stadium.
Currently holding the UK welterweight championship under the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship (BKFC), Tierney believes a third consecutive win could secure him a coveted world title bout at St Andrews. Such a stadium showdown would evoke memories of legendary boxer Henry Cooper’s victory over Johnny Prescott at the ground in 1965. In fact, Connor feels this upcoming event could surpass even Cooper’s historic fight in scale and impact.
In a recent interview with BirminghamLive, Tierney shared his enthusiasm: “The club knows about me and I’ve met Tom Wagner. It’s all moving in the right direction for a stadium show. The better I perform, and the more I’m connected with the club, the closer the idea of headlining at St Andrews becomes a reality rather than a dream.”
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He reflected on other great Birmingham fighters like Frankie Gavin, Wayne Elcock, and Galal Yafai, who never had the chance to headline at St Andrews. Connor is determined to break that barrier – and in bare-knuckle fighting, no less. “It would be the biggest combat sports event in Birmingham, even bigger than the Henry Cooper fight,” he said confidently.
After his last fight, Tierney noted that 80% of those he spoke to called it the most entertaining night of fighting in Birmingham for years. His bare-knuckle matches promise knockouts, intensity, and relentless action that stand out from conventional boxing and MMA bouts.
Despite his rising profile in fighting, Tierney continues to work as a quantity surveyor, using his day job to stay grounded. At 31, he is mindful of the challenges and limited longevity of his fighting career. “I miss a lot of family time, and don’t want to wait until I’m 38 to look back on missed opportunities,” he said. For now, Connor is focused on carving out his legacy - and nothing would crown his journey better than a triumphant headline fight on the pitch at St Andrews.