Boxer Stephen Tiffney faces crunch bout ahead of Vegas wedding

IF his fiancée had her way, the only ring he'd be thinking about is the one he's about to slip onto her finger.

Stephen and Aime square up ahead of the big day. Picture: Neil Hanna

Stephen Tiffney is getting married next Wednesday during a dream ceremony in Las Vegas set to be attended by 40 of his and Amie Wahlberg’s friends and family.

But before then, the 27-year-old boxer faces a crunch fight at Meadowbank – with a fierce warning from Amie, his partner of eight years, ringing in his ears...

Stephen has been left in no doubt that he must escape Saturday night’s featherweight battle with Joe Beeden unscratched – or he might not even get to make an appearance in his own wedding 
pictures.

Stephen Tiffney beats Qasim Hussain at Meadowbank. Picture: Toby Williams

“With us leaving on Monday, Amie has warned me I better not get any black eyes for the photos. She’ll kill me if I come out all black and blue,” Tiffney joked.

“She’s done a lot of the organising and we’ve got a good group of about 40 going over, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“We’re getting married next Wednesday, will spend a couple of days in Vegas before heading to Los Angeles for a week, just the two of us.”

The Newtongrange fighter is seeking his fifth consecutive win in the paid ranks on MGM Scotland’s Collision Course bill after a “training camp” with a difference – his stag do in Blackpool.

Stephen Tiffney beats Qasim Hussain at Meadowbank. Picture: Toby Williams

“It was a great weekend but as you can imagine there was a lot of drinking involved,” he said. “As the stag I was never going to get away with just a quiet few days so it ended up being a real blowout.

“On the Saturday night I got dragged out of my bed and had my shirt and trousers ripped off – I ended up completely naked on Blackpool Promenade.

“They were all trying to get me into the water but the tide was about a mile out so I managed to escape that one.

“I didn’t get back to the gym until about the following Thursday as it took me quite a few days to recover. I felt like I was dying in my bed so there’s been a lot of hard work since then. But I’m ready to go on Saturday night.”

Tiffney, whose last victory came in March at the Capital venue, visited London in January to spar with IBF world super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton.

He believes he has shown steady improvement since signing his professional contract with MGM last summer.

“I’ve really enjoyed myself since making the step up to the pros,” he said. “It’s a massive bill this one coming up so I’m really looking forward to it. It’s always a good night. He’s another journeyman kind of opponent with only a few wins but I think we’re concentrating on making that step up after the summer break in September or October.

“I want to be making that jump as soon as I can though. I’ve trained well again so I’m prepared.”

• Saturday’s event will also see Edinburgh-based boxers Lewis Benson, John Thain, Jason Easton, Brian Forsyth, Tommy Philbin, Thomas Dickson and Lee Redpath take to the ring. Tickets are available from www.ticketmaster.co.uk and are priced at £100 VIP, £60 ringside and £40 unreserved.

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