’Amer blow for Heffron

MARK HEFFRON . . . pulled out of Irish Middleweight Prizefighter.

Boxing:

OLDHAM’S Mark Heffron has been forced to pull out of the Irish Middleweight Prizefighter as he recovers from a broken hand.

The highly-rated 20 year old sustained the injury when he stopped Fethi Bentafna in the first round of their bout in Amsterdam.

Mark, younger brother of Frank Warren-promoted Ronnie (21), is on the road to recovery but next month’s King’s Hall showpiece in Belfast will come too soon.

His Failsworth-based trainer Anthony Farnell said: “Mark is absolutely gutted to have withdrawn from the Irish Middleweight Prizefighter. He was confident of making a real impact there because he was on a roll and feeling good.

“Fethi Bentafna had never been stopped before and Mark achieved it in the first round in Amsterdam, so he was flying. Immediately after feeling the injury over there we still didn’t think it was too serious.”

Thoughts of atissue damage or bruising were dispelled by a specialist, who confirmed a break - putting Mark in a cast for four weeks

“It is a shame and I feel for him, but he will bounce back stronger than ever and we cannot wait to get a fight arranged,” said Farnell.

His brother Ronnie is back in action in a Central Area title showdown with Liam Smith at Oldham Sports Centre on May 18