Heffron wary of Argentine opponent

Boxing:

MARK Heffron is hoping plenty of Irish eyes will be smiling on him on Saturday night in Dublin.

The Oldham middleweight prospect (22) takes on 24-year-old Argentine dangerman Mateo Damian Veron at the National Stadium in Dublin, and is confident of stretching his pro record to nine wins from nine fights.

Family roots in the Emerald Isle mean Heffron should enjoy plenty of support, so he can’t wait for his scheduled eight-rounder on fight night.

Speaking from his Dublin hotel, he said: “It’s going to be noisy. There will be lots of Irish fans cheering me on, and quite a few of my mates from England have come over too. It’s going to be a cracking night and I can’t wait.

“Training couldn’t have gone better. I can’t take Veron lightly, though. He’s won 19 and only lost nine, so he’s dangerous. He’s ranked 18 with the WBC, so that tells you a lot about him.”

Should Heffron get through Saturday’s test, he is pencilled in for a fight in California in April.