Heffron set for arena crunch

Ronnie Heffron

A BIG decision to switch trainers is hopefully set to pay off for Ronnie Heffron as the Oldham light-middleweight prospect gears up for what could be a career-defining fight at the Manchester Arena tomorrow night.

Former ABA king Heffron, who will turn 24 on Monday, takes on unbeaten Welsh hopeful Liam Williams in what is now an eliminator for the British title, which is currently held by Liam Smith.

Heffron stretched his professional record to 15 wins from 16 fights last time out when he edged out previously unbeaten Scot John Thain on points (96-95) at the Aintree Equestrian Centre in March.

By his own admission it wasn’t a vintage performance from Heffron, however, and since then he has left Bobby Rimmer’s tutelage and returned to his former amateur trainer Kelvin Travis. This time round, Heffron appears much more relaxed pre-fight.

He said: “I made mistakes ahead of the Thain bout. At this stage I was seven pounds overweight so there was a lot to take off, but this time I’m only a pound over and it feels tons better.

“I definitely got the weight wrong, which meant I then had to go on a crash diet in the lead-up to the fight and that weakened me a bit.

“I’ve learned lessons from that night, though having said I still thought I deserved to win the fight.

“I'm determined for Saturday’s contest not to be as close, though I know Williams is going to run and grab. I know a lad who’s been sparring with him and that’s what he’s been doing.

Tomorrow’s fight will be a 10-rounder, and pits Heffron against a man who is undefeated in 10 fights so far in the paid ranks, a record of nine wins and a draw.
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