James is a knockout on professional debut

The Poleglass prodigy ended a successful stint in the amateur code for the lure of the paid circuit and at just 19 years of age is looking to take his time and gradually improve while climbing the ladder to title glory.

“I wasn’t going for the stoppage tonight and it was always a bonus if it happened so when it came I just took it. I got brilliant support tonight from my fans who all made a lot of noise,” said the self-styled ‘Baby Faced Assassin’.

“I won three Irish titles as an amateur, four Ulster and five Antrim titles. I represented Ireland in the President’s Cup and won a multi-nations gold medal in Portugal [he also beat Commonwealth bronze medallist Enda Kennedy for the Antrim Intermediate title]. I train in Belfast’s Kronk gym on the Antrim Road alongside (highly-rated professional boxers) Dee Walsh and Daniel McShane.”

James has linked up with Mark Dunlop’s recently devised organisation Peace Promotions, who ran Saturday night’s show in the Holiday Inn venue in association with long-established boxing stalwarts Jane and Alan Wilton. Tennyson next fights in the Ulster Hall on October 13 -where a monster 12-fight bill is being prepared- and will no doubt take another huge army of fans with him from Poleglass. The talented super-featherweight remains level headed when it comes to talk of future opportunities.

“I’ll have to leave all that to Mark because he calls the shots. I want to keep moving forward up the ranks and progressing as a professional. It was a slightly slower pace tonight and I planted my feet more than when I was an amateur. There wasn’t a great deal of difference from the way I boxed then and I always had more of a pro style anyway.”

A familiar face to Lisburn boxing fans, Ralph McKay, worked Tennyson’s corner in tandem with head trainer at the Kronk, Tony Dunlop.

“Ralph has looked after me since I was a young boy boxing as an amateur,” explained James. “I get great sparring now with Daniel McShane, Matt Wilton, Marco McCullough and Jamie Conlan. I’m always working on my fitness and I want to get as fit as possible.

“The Ulster Hall will be fantastic on October 13 and the best experience that you can get.”