Cork Boxer Steven Cairns Achieves Career Milestone with Championship Win and “Full Circle” Moment
The weekend proved to be a significant one for Cork’s burgeoning professional boxing talent, Steven Cairns. The 21-year-old phenom not only extended his undefeated record to a formidable 14 wins and 0 losses but also secured his first professional championship belt. This momentous occasion was amplified by a deeply personal “full circle” encounter with boxing icon Katie Taylor.
Cairns was a prominent figure on a star-studded undercard at the 3Arena on Saturday evening, a night headlined by the Queensberry WBA World Super Featherweight clash between Jazza Dickens and Anthony Cacace. For Cairns, who has an impressive seven national titles to his name from his amateur career, the night was about facing English opponent Arnie Dawson.
The event proved to be a triumphant one for Irish boxing, with Cairns delivering a stellar performance. He ultimately defeated Dawson via a ninth-round stoppage, having knocked his opponent down an impressive three times throughout the bout. This dominant victory saw Cairns crowned the WBA Continental Lightweight Champion, marking a significant achievement in his professional journey.
Adding to the prestige of the evening, boxing legend Katie Taylor was a notable attendee, ringside with her husband, Sean Cavanagh. Taylor, a two-weight undisputed world champion, took time to interact with some of the boxers on the bill. It was during this time that Cairns experienced a deeply meaningful moment, meeting Taylor after his hard-fought victory.
The Cork native proudly shared glimpses of his encounter with Taylor on social media. The pair posed for photographs, and Cairns then revealed a cherished childhood photo of himself meeting Taylor as a young, aspiring boxer. Reflecting on the experience, Cairns shared his sentiments: “Imagine quitting early… you might never get to show Katie Taylor a childhood fan photo whilst standing in the changing room after winning your first pro title.” He elaborated on the profound nature of the moment, stating, “From a childhood fan… to this moment after my first pro title.” Social media users flooded the comments section with congratulatory messages, with Taylor herself remarking on their shared past, noting that they “haven’t changed a bit.”
The main event of the evening saw Belfast’s Anthony Cacace emerge victorious after a gruelling 12-round battle of technical boxing against Britain’s Jazza Dickens.
Dublin’s Pierce O’Leary also secured a significant win on the night, defeating Mark Chamberlain to claim the vacant IBO World Super Lightweight Championship.
In other professional debuts, decorated amateur heavyweight boxer Adam Olaniyan made a strong impression, achieving a first-round victory in his first professional outing.
While present in a supportive capacity, Katie Taylor also provided an update on her own highly anticipated retirement bout. She reiterated her strong desire for this swansong fight to take place at Croke Park later in the year.
Katie Taylor Eyes Croke Park for Her Farewell Fight
Speaking with DAZN presenter Dev Sahni on Saturday evening, Taylor addressed the much-anticipated prospect of her retirement fight gracing the iconic Croke Park. When questioned about the timeline, Taylor expressed her eagerness: “Let’s go, Croke Park,” she declared. “Hopefully July- August sometime, please god. Let’s make it happen.” The confirmation of her aspirations has undoubtedly fuelled excitement among Irish fight fans for what promises to be a historic event.
