ONLY 14 months into his pro career and Stephen Newns is already 7-0. He looks to become 8-0 late this month.
The 27-year-old Scot meets Jordan Grannum at Oldham Leisure Centre on Saturday, July 26.
The show is promoted by his manager, Kevin Maree, and Newns won’t need his sat nav to find the venue.
Five of his previous seven pro fights have been there and with a father from Salford, Newns is guaranteed good support.
He has also fought twice in Scotland as he settles into the pros after an amateur career at the highest level.
“There are benefits to not being with a big TV promoter,” said Newns.
“Prospects with big TV promoters are struggling to get on shows, while I’ve been getting the rounds in, learning how to pace a fight in the pros.
“I see myself with a big TV promoter in the future. I have the quality to be on the big TV shows.”
Newns envisages Nathaniel Collins being the next Scot to top big bills north of the border after his stunning demolition of Lee McGregor.
Newns admits he expected a more competitive fight than the four-round walloping Collins dished out on the Josh Taylor-Ekow Essuman undercard in May.
Newns and Collins were team mates in the Scottish amateur squad, competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games together.
Newns also competed in Birmingham four years later and estimates more than half of his 107 amateur bouts were at international level.
“I went to two Commonwealth Games, I’ve been to Serbia, Russia four times, Ukraine, Romania,” said Newns, who believes Willy Hutchinson still had a good future after his loss to Joshua Buatsi.
“I have seen every style. I’ve been in with Uzbeks, Kazakhs and Africans, I boxed Pat McCormack before he went to the Olympics and got silver.
“I live and breathe boxing and have done since I was 11.
“I have been to university and had a part-time job, but that was just to get by. I’m not living the Floyd Mayweather lifestyle. I have to get by.”
The name Stephen Newns is well known to older Scottish fans.
Stephen Newns Sr won the Scottish title and went on to coach the team at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.
“Dad had around 130 amateurs,” said Newns. “They were different times. You would get a call saying: ‘You’re boxing tonight’, and that would be it.
“He boxed at middleweight and light-heavyweight and from the clips I’ve seen he was a come-forward pressure fighter. He was more stocky and robust than I am. I’m tall and lean and like to keep it long.”
That is the style Grannum will face in Oldham.
The Londoner has seen most styles in his 12-164-5 career and Newns said: “Technically he’s good and I know he’s tough.
“I don’t want to jump up too soon. I’m still transitioning from the amateurs.”
