Heffron tipped for good year

OLDHAM boxer Ronnie Heffron, who made his professional debut last month, is being tipped to make it big this year.

“I’ve been compared to Ricky Hatton and hopefully people saw how exciting I can be when I fought up in Newcastle, said Heffron.

“There’s some quality young talent out there in the pro game at the moment and I’m very excited about what the future holds.”

Heffron’s promoter Frank Warren says British boxing is in great shape as it enters a new decade - and reckons he’s got 10 fighters to prove it - Heffron among them.

Warren hosted a press conference in London, where he was joined by the young professionals he’s backing to make it to the very top.

All 10 have had less than 10 fights in the paid ranks, and are yet to challenge for honours.

But Warren believes that the youngsters have massive potential and could become as big as any of the stars he has worked with.

The 10 fighters are:

Olympic gold medallist James DeGale, smateur world champion Frankie Gavin, as well as amateur stand-outs Billy Joe Saunders, Thomas Costello, Stephen Smith, Liam Smith, Heffron, and Norfolk’s trio of Walsh brothers, Ryan, Liam and Michael.

“I’ve been involved in boxing for the best part of 30 years and this crop of youngsters matches any that I have promoted,” said Warren.

“There is so much talent around at the moment that we are in for a very exciting couple of years watching these guys develop, and then a very exciting decade as they go beyond domestic level and start challenging for world honours.

“I’m confident that one or more of the big names of the 2010s is going to come from this group of fighters. We’re also going to have some massive fights as well - lots of these boys are in and around the same weight divisions, so there are some great matches to be made.”

As well as his 10 for the 2010s, Warren’s bulging stable includes a host of other young talents hoping to make it big on the world stage.

“Everyone at the press conference was chosen because they are at the formative stage of their professional careers and have had less than 10 fights,” he explained.

“But I’ve also got lots of fighters who are just as exciting but a little more experienced - Kell Brook, Kevin Mitchell, Nathan Cleverly, Paul Smith, Tony Bellew, Sam Sexton and Derek Chisora are all at championship level right now and will also be really big in the coming years.”

Those fighters present at the press conference are relishing the chance to shine in the next decade.

DeGale said: “I grew up watching the likes of Naseem Hamed, Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, and the chance to become as big a name as one of them is unbelievable.”

Gavin said: “I was Britain’s first amateur world champion but now I want to be a professional world champion as well. I’ve had a good start to my career, but it’s only the beginning really. By the end of the year I want to be fighting for titles.”

Saunders, who like his fellow 2008 Olympians is unbeaten in five professional fights, said: “It’s good to be flagged up by a great promoter like Frank as one to watch, but all his praise will mean nothing unless I produce the goods in the ring. That’s what I have to do over the next few years.”

The Walsh brothers, Gavin, DeGale and Saunders will all feature on the undercard of Warren’s February 13 show at Wembley Arena, while the Smith brothers, Heffron and Costello all fight on March 12 in Liverpool.