Heffron back to business

BACK IN TRAINING: Ronnie Heffron

Boxing:

TRAINER Ben Lancaster is hoping hard work pays off for Ronnie Heffron in Cardiff on Saturday.

Oldham ace Heffron (23) heads to South Wales to take on unbeaten Edinburgh prospect John Thain in what is now a 10-round British light-middleweight title eliminator.

Boarshaw Gym trainer Lancaster knows a tough task awaits Heffron, but he has plenty of faith in his former ABA amateur champion.

Lancaster said: “I know Thain still boasts an unbeaten record, but everyone around Ronnie is very confident leading up to the weekend.

“He has worked so hard on lots of different things. His defence has tightened up significantly, while he’s also done lots of top quality sparring, and the move up a weight to light-middle looks to have suited him.

“Saturday is now a title eliminator, so hopefully a victory would be a good platform to better things.”

While 25-year-old Thain has won all of his 10 professional fights so far, Heffron’s record has 12 wins and one defeat, with five inside the distance against Thain’s one.

It is nine months since Heffron lost his last-minute challenge for Denton Vassell’s Commonwealth title.

“He perhaps still wouldn’t be ready for Vassell, but the way he’s learning and improving all the time then he would definitely do a lot better job now,” said Lancaster.

“Hopefully a victory over Thain would open up a few more doors and we can then get a much better idea of exactly what Ronnie might be capable of.”