There have been moments in Stephen Newns Jr’s life over the past few months that must have veered into the realms of the surreal.
An invitation to visit the Top Rank gym in Las Vegas this summer saw him working alongside “uncle” Jeff Mayweather, training with David Haye, and being coached by Wayne McCullough, the Northern Irish former world champion.
A few weeks later and Newns was announcing he was turning professional and would be co-managed by Jerry Casarez and Jamel Herring, the latter another former world champion who effectively sent Carl Frampton into retirement two years ago.
For an amateur from Cleland whose previous significant fight had been a painful first-round loss in last summer’s Commonwealth Games, this was life-changing stuff.
The 25 year-old admits he owes a debt of gratitude to Jamie “Jay” Robinson, the former Edinburgh boxer turned Stateside matchmaker who reached out to Newns to offer the opportunity. The rest, though, he believes is down to himself, showing sufficient potential to entice someone as renowned as Herring to stake his reputation on him. Now Newns has to show he is worth all the fuss.
“There’s been so much going on over the last few months that I’m still trying to adjust and take it all in,” he admits. “I’ve just finished my Masters degree [in Sports Coaching at UWS] which was pretty full-on in the first half of the year and I also came off the Scotland set-up too which was a huge adjustment as I’d been part of that since I was a young kid.
“So with that and being out in America there’s been a lot going on. I just had to stay strong and believe that things would work out. I work hard as I know that boxing is a short career. I just want to give it 100 percent while I’m still young and talented enough.
“The Vegas thing came about through Jay who got in touch and spoke to a few people out there on my behalf. And that led to me getting the chance to spar in the Top Rank gym, working with Wayne and others. That was an incredible experience and a new challenge to go there myself to meet all these new people, rather than as part of the Scotland team. It was good to pick the brains of all the people that I met and hope to maybe emulate their achievements one day.
“I’ve endured a lot of lows in boxing and it teaches you that you have to trust and believe in yourself, no matter what. Other people can help you along the way – and I’m very grateful for that - but ultimately it has to come from yourself. I’ve had to dig deep to get where I am now.”
If red tape wrangles can be smoothed out, the plan for Newns will be to base himself in Las Vegas on a semi-permanent basis. For now, however, he is in Essex, working with trainer Will Jones as he prepares for his professional debut.
That will take place back in Glasgow next week (October 26) at the St Andrew’s Sporting Club, an event he is eagerly looking forward to.
“I’ve been training down in Romford alongside the likes of Ohara Davies so I’ve had plenty of sparring down here,” adds Newns. “For me to start my professional career as soon as possible, it makes sense to do it in the UK.
“I’m really looking forward to making my debut after a smooth training camp. It’s the first time in my life I’ve been able to fully focus on boxing and not worry about college or university or working shifts in the gym. It’s been tough at times having to relocate but, for progression in my career, this was the best move for me, experiencing different training and sparring.
“I’m going straight into a six-rounder against a seasoned Estonian fighter so that’s going to be a tough test for my debut. But I’m fully confident I can get the job done.”
Herring won’t be in Glasgow for that one as he prepares for his own return to the ring but his co-manager is already making encouraging noises about big things ahead for Newns. Naturally the Scot is keen to see just what might unfold.
“The plan is to come back down to Essex next month with hopefully something big to announce in December,” hints Newns, who will make his professional debut at super-welterweight. “My intention is to go back to America at some point in the spring if my managers can get all the red tape sorted. I’m looking forward to that and hopefully having a good part of my career out in the States. But first things first.”
