Heffron lands silver medal

OLDHAM boxer Mark Heffron punched his way to a silver medal in the European championships which were staged in Poland.

The 18-year-old, from Horsedge Street, successfully came through three bouts before losing in the final to Russian Alexander Besputin.

Heffron was beaten 3-1 on points by the under-19 world champion, though it was not without controversy.

Ben Lancaster, who coaches Heffron at Boarshaw Boxing Club, said: “I watched the bout live on the internet and I thought Mark won.

“It was as though the judges had decided the result before the bout as Besputin is a world champion.”

Despite his loss in the final of the 64kg light-welterweight division, Heffron was still voted boxer-of-the-tournament, a great accolade bearing in mind there were 160 boxers competing.

Earlier in the competition, Heffron defeated Scotland’s Robert McKee 9-4, Ireland’s Gavin Moore 6-3 and Poland’s Kamil Gardzielik 6-3.

The latest success adds to earlier triumphs this year as Heffron won the National Boys Club title, finished runner-up in the junior ABAs and helped England to victory in the Home Internationals and a multi-nations tournament in Ireland.

Heffron’s older brother Ronnie will make his debut as a professional on October 30 at Liverpool. Tickets for the show are available from Ben Lancaster on 0161 653 1128.


CHADDERTON’S Thomas Stubbs heads for Italy this week aiming to become a world champion.

The 19-year-old is a member of Great Britain’s Podium and Development Squad for the 2012 Olympics with high hopes of winning a medal.

Stubbs, who trains at the English Institute of Sport, in Sheffiedl, is one of seven fighters in the Great Britain squad for the world championships.

“I’m ready and raring to get to the world championships. We’ve all been training really hard and this will be good practice for the future,” he said.

Stubbs, who will be competing in the 48kg division, has won all eight bouts in 2009.

It has been a memorable year in which he successfully defended his senior ABA title and was crowned European Union light-flyweight champion. He has also won a gold medal in the Zltko Cup, in Croatia, and was crowned Great Britain champion.