James Tennyson


James Martin Tennyson is an Irish professional boxer who has held the British lightweight title since August. He previously held the Commonwealth and European super-featherweight titles in 2018 and challenged once for the IBF super-featherweight title that same year.

Professional career

Two-Time Irish champion

Tennyson is a two-time super-featherweight Boxing Union of Ireland champion. In 2013, he became the youngest ever modern era Irish champion by defeating former champion Mickey Coveney by knockout in the second round in what was only his sixth professional contest at the now demolished old St. Kevins Hall. In 2017, he won the title for the second time with a sixth-round technical knockout over Dublin's former highly decorated amateur stand out Declan Geraghty at the Waterfront Hall in Belfast, live on BoxNation.

Celtic champion

He became Celtic featherweight champion in 2015 by way of disqualification after his opponent, Kris Hughes of Scotland, continued to hold after having already been deducted three points in the fight for persistent holding while heavily behind on points. This contest was also a final eliminator for the British featherweight title.

British Featherweight title challenger

Tennyson challenged Ryan Walsh for the British featherweight title, losing by fifth-round TKO after having been dropped twice in the fight by body shots. This contest proved to be his last at featherweight having struggled to make the weight.

Move to Lightweight (2019)

Following an unsuccessful world title challenge against IBF super-featherweight champion Tevin Farmer in 2018, Tennyson made the decision to move up in weight and fight at 135 where he wouldn't have to struggle to make weight. Since moving up and making his lightweight debut in 2019, Tennyson has won four straight fights, defeating then 10–0 Garry Neale, journeyman Brayan Mairena, and Atif Shafiq all by KO in the second round and then snapping Craig Evans' three-fight win streak by knocking him out in round eleven. Tennyson seems to be on the best run of his career so far at lightweight, with Promoter Eddie Hearn stating, "Tennyson could go on a real run at lightweight now. He punches really hard and I think a lot of the frailties that he had at 130lbs have gone now."

British Lightweight Champion

James Tennyson extended his knockout streak to five with a sixth-round TKO win over Gavin Gwynne on the first card of Matchroom's fight camp. In doing so, he won the vacant British lightweight title.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
30Win27–3 Gavin GwynneTKO6, 2:301 Aug 2020Brentwood, England.png" />Won vacant British lightweight title
29Win26–3 Craig EvansTKO11, 2:0023 Nov 2019M&S Bank Arena, Liverpool, England.png" />
28Win25–3 Atif ShafiqKO2, 2:5131 Aug 2019The O2 Arena, London, England.png" />Won vacant WBA International lightweight title
27Win24–3 Brayan MairenaTKO2, 2:0118 May 2019Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
26Win23–3 Garry NealeKO2, 3:059 Feb 2019Ulster Hall, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
25Loss22–3 Tevin FarmerTKO5, 1:4420 Oct 2018TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts, US.png" />For IBF super-featherweight title
24Win22–2 Martin Joseph WardTKO5, 2:245 May 2018O2 Arena, London, England.png" />Retained WBA International super-featherweight title;
Won Commonwealth, and European super-featherweight titles
22Win21–2 Arnoldo SolanoKO1, 0:593 Feb 2018Europa Hotel, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
22Win20–2 Darren TraynorTKO3, 2:2421 Oct 2017SSE Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />Retained WBA International super-featherweight title
21Win19–2 Ryan DoyleRTD6, 3:0010 Jun 2017Odyssey Arena, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />Won vacant WBA International super-featherweight title
20Win18–2 Declan GeraghtyTKO6, 2:5310 Mar 2017Won vacant BUI featherweight title
19Win17–2 Rafael CastilloPTS45 Nov 2015Titanic Exhibition Centre, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
18Loss16–2 Ryan WalshTKO5, 2:3430 Apr 2016Copper Box Arena, London, England.png" />Won British featherweight title
17Win16–1 Antonio HorvaticTKO1, 2:076 Feb 2016
16Win15–1 Sergejs LoginsTKO1, 1:5014 Nov 2015Tallinn, Estonia.png" />
15Win14–1 Giorgi GachechiladzeTKO2, 2:1817 Oct 2015
14Win13–1 Krzysztof RogowskiTKO3, 2:436 Jun 2015
13Win12–1 Kris HughesDQ7, 2:3128 Mar 2015Won Celtic featherweight title;
Hughes disqualified for persistent holding
12Win11–1 Simas VolosinasTKO2, 1:237 Feb 2015
11Win10–1 Ian BaileyPTS810 May 2014
10Win9–1 Ignac KassaiTKO3 18 Apr 2014Budapest, Hungary.png" />
9Loss8–1 Pavels SenkovsTKO2, 0:4119 Oct 2013
8Win8–0 Andrei HramykaTKO1, 2:4928 Jun 2013Holiday Inn, Ormeau Avenue, Belfast, Northern Ireland.png" />
7Win7–0 David KanalesKO2, 1:4124 May 2013Olympia, Liverpool, England.png" />
6Win6–0 Mickey CoveneyTKO2, 1:4127 Apr 2013Won vacant BUI super-featherweight title
5Win5–0 David KisTKO1, 0:579 Mar 2013Dundalk, Ireland.png" />
4Win4–0 Mickey CoveneyPTS67 Dec 2012Wishaw, Scotland.png" />
3Win3–0 Ignac KassaiTKO1, 1:143 Nov 2012National Basketball Arena, Dublin, Ireland.png" />
2Win2–0 Tibor MeszarosTKO1, 0:5213 Oct 2012
1Win1–0 Fikret RemzievTKO4, 1:578 Sep 2013