Roar on Ronnie

Photo: Vincent Brown

BROTHERS IN ARMS: Ronnie (left), who is preparing for a non-title bout at Bowlers tomorrow, and Mark Heffron have joined forces at Anthony Farnell’s gym.

BOXING: RONNIE Heffron will be roared on by a partisan crowd at Bowlers tomorrow as he bids to move a step closer to a Central Area title fight.

Promoter Frank Warren has intimated that a successful night for ‘Razor Ronnie’ against a yet-to-be-confirmed opponent will earn him a shot at a professional crown.

The welterweight (21) was supposed to go head-to-head with Chris Johnson for the title last November, only forJohnson to withdraw with a bad back.

Heffron’s Failsworth-based trainer Anthony Farnell believes the support his young charge enjoys at every bout can inspire him to victory at the popular boxing venue, which is near the Trafford Centre.

He said: “Everywhere Ronnie goes now it is a big deal. It has been like a snowball effect over the last 12 months or so. It honestly spurs him on when he hears people cheering and singing his name, and tomorrow night will be no different.

“There are plenty of coaches heading to Bowlers from Oldham and we both genuinely appreciate it. Hopefully Ronnie can reward people with a focused and professional win. Then, and only then, we can start thinking about a title fight, which is the next step.”

A familiar face has joined Heffron at Farnell’s gym — younger brother Mark Heffron (20), who is also a welterweight, has made the switch from Joe Gallagher’s camp in Denton.

Before his departure, Gallagher hailed him as Oldham’s answer to Ricky Hatton.

Farnell added: “I am delighted to have Mark on board. There is a lot of buzz about him because he is an explosive fighter with loads of ability. He has trained well over the last couple of weeks and we hope to see him back in the ring at the start of March.

“It suits Ronnie down to the ground because they can help each other out in the gym.”