The sky's the limit for star Heffron

Date published: 16 June 2017


MULTIPLE world title-winner and now respected trainer Ricky Hatton reckons his new charge Mark Heffron has got what it takes to reach for the stars.

Super-middleweight power puncher Heffron (25) takes another step on the ladder towards professional boxing success tomorrow when he takes on tough-as-teak Polish rival Bartlomiej Grafka at the Victoria Warehouse in Trafford Park.

Heffron already boasts a perfect record of 15 wins - including 13 knockouts - from 15 fights so far, and is hotly fancied to extend that sequence on the VIP Promotions show. Already, Hatton is expecting big progress from a fighter he only took on a month ago following a split from Kevin Maree.

Asked about Heffron's future prospects, Hatton told the Chronicle: "Mark's a murderous puncher and he's still only 25. He's fresh, there's no miles on the clock, and when he comes to the gym he's always got a smile on his face.

"He gets on with all the lads here and he works hard. He has got the potential to go all the way to the top - very much so.

"He's on the verge of title shots now and he is championship material.

"When I see how much he's come on in just four weeks it makes me think what's he going to be like in four months, or even four years? It's exciting for us both. He listens, he learns, though as good as he is, I also know I can give him so much more.

"I can give him a whole new dimension yet.

"Mark has got natural ability, so once we've tweaked a few things here and there and polished a few things he can go all the way."

As soon as Hatton was made aware that Heffron was on the look-out for a trainer, he didn't hang about. The former undisputed light-welterweight king, who fought four times in Las Vegas during a glittering boxing career, added: "I've always been a fan of Mark's. He's a nice kid, and he's got a good style which is right up Ricky Hatton's street.

"He had a couple of years when he was a little bit inactive due to management and promotional problems, but now he's become a father, settled down, and he's really dedicated to the sport.

"He was a good boxer anyway, but when I look at how much I can add to his game, it's exciting.

"He's like me in many ways, he's aggressive and he likes to do damage to his opponent.

"I don't want to change anything about his style. He just needs a little bit more subtlety and bit more tricky movement and he'll go places, there's no doubt about that."

Hatton was speaking from his gym complex in Hyde, where he also trains WBA world bantamweight champion Zhanat Zhakiyanov, Darryll Williams, the English super-middleweight champ, central area heavyweight title holder Nathan Gorman and fellow prospects Chris Blaney, Sam Evans, Reuben Arrowsmith and Jake Haigh.