Heffron joins the professionals

RONNIE HEFFRON: Left out of GB team.

Boxing

LOCAL lad Ronnie Heffron’s dream of boxing for Great Britain at the 2012 Olympic Games is over.

In a dramatic move, the 18-year-old from Horsedge Street has decided to turn professional after being controversially omitted from the Great Britain team which will compete in next week’s European Championships in Denmark.

Rather than risk being overlooked again, Heffron has decided after much soul searching over the last fortnight to end his illustrious amateur career.

Frank Warren Promotions have confirmed that former Counthill School pupil Heffron, the reigning ABA champion at 64kg, is joining them. He is lined up for his professional debut at light-welterweight in September.

Heffron was so highly rated that he received funding for the Great Britain Podium Squad for 2012, but had the misfortune of being in the same weight division as Bradley Saunders, who fought at the Beijing Olympic Games.

Heffron’s father Tommy, a former England amateur international, said: “If Ronnie stayed amateur there is no guarantee that he would be picked for London if Saunders stays amateur.

“He would have loved to have carried on, but feels he is wasting his time. Not being picked for the Europeans simply brought matters to a head.

“Saunders is ranked No 1 and Ronnie No 2. but the ABA have turned down our request that the two of them should fight to see which of them is the best boxer.

“We also asked that Ronnie be selected for the Europeans and Saunders for the World Championships later this year so that both of them could compete in a major tournament.”
Heffron, who has been boxing at the Boarshaw club since the age of seven, has punched his way to a senior ABA title, two junior ABA crowns, four national schoolboy championships and five gold medals in Four Nations Tournaments.

Heffron has joined Anthony Farnell, the former WBU middleweight champion from Failsworth, who runs Arnie’s Gym on Oldham Road.

He is training with Frankie Gavin, the Great Britain medal prospect from Beijing, who was dramatically forced out of the Olympics for failing to make the weight.

Heffron admitted he had mixed feelings about turning professional.

He said: “I have been working for years towards the 2012 Olympics but, after what has happened, there is no guarantee that I would box in London.

“I am gutted at missing out on the Olympics because my aim was always to remain an amateur until after London.”

But having made the career-changing decision, Heffron says he is excited by the prospect of turning professional, though he admits it is hard leaving Ben Lancaster, who has coached him since the age of seven at Boarshaw.