Sparks set to fly as a new era begins for underdog Kirk Stevens

He is a genuinely hard man in a hard world – and that “never say die” attitude has seen Kirk’s career hit surprising heights.

For the Telford lightweight – a real Rocky of the Wrekin district – a new chapter begins at the Holiday Inn, Birmingham Airport, on Sunday, December 1.

That’s his first contest as a member of Tristan Davies’ Donnington gym, a sweatshop where he now toils alongside Telford’s most famous active boxer, all conquering super-bantam Liam Davies.

Before, he prepared for pro battles at Mo Fiaz’s gym in nearby Wellington. The parting of ways has been amicable, 34-year-old Kirk insisted.

“I’m grateful for what I achieved there and I appreciate the time they put in and what they did for me,” he said. “I just needed a change, I felt the fire was dying down.”

Kirk has a lot of fire and old-fashioned bottle.

“I see myself as a modern day gladiator in the Colosseum, I really do,” he said. “It’s all about the dog in you. Some kids are very skilled in boxing, but don’t like getting hit.

“I’m a persistent fighter – I feel alive when I’m getting hit. I love it. I do my missus’ head in how much I love boxing.”

Kirk is a man who came from boxing’s blindside, who turned pro with the simple aim of making a few bob, then began to spring upsets.

With every bout, ambition and belief grew in a man knocked out in his debut.

He entered Tommy Owens’ lucrative Top Boxer welterweight tournament last year – a last man standing competition of “rock ‘em, sock ‘em” three-round bouts – as the rank outsider.

Kirk took the call to compete at 48 hours notice. He was the oldest of the line-up, the lightest, the only one with losses on his record. He went on to win the whole caboodle.

And the Cinderella story continued with points victory over Jamie Stewart for the Midlands light-welterweight title.

That epic took place in Jamie’s home city of Stoke: so did the title return, again won by Stevens on points.

Last time out, in March, an eye injury saw Kirk beaten by prospect Youssef Khoumari who has lost only two of 20. That setback has not blunted his ambition.

Kirk didn’t put on a pair of gloves until he was 25 and has been learning on the job since turning pro in 2022.

It’s been a tough apprenticeship. First opponent, big punching Ashlee Eales went on to claim the Midlands title – at light-middleweight.

“I’m a totally different fighter,” the father-of-two said. “I’m more skilful and that’s down to (Wellington coach) Sonny Jeffrey, he made me use my jab more.

“These prospects who are 10-0 against journeymen, I think, ‘I will stick it on you, I’ll show you it’s a different ball game’.”

That’s not just bravado. A ring appointment with rugged Stevens means a hard night’s work. He can be beaten – four of 10 opponents have done that – but not even a rabid Rottweiler would make the hardman roll over.

“I’m a risk-taker,” he said excitedly, “I have to live life on the edge. If you don’t live life on the edge you can’t achieve greatness. I feel unbeatable, untouchable.

“The new year, we will be going for titles – the English, the British, whatever the belts. If they have the belts, I want to fight them.”

Kirk Stevens – a man who in his own words has risen from “nothing to something” – is dreaming big.

And he prepared to wade through blood and bruises to make those dreams a reality.