Mid-November marked a significant milestone as Stoke-on-Trent boxer Nathan Heaney achieved a remarkable victory by beating Denzel Bentley to claim the British Middleweight Championship. This event set the stage for an exciting journey ahead.

Honour and Emotion

Heaney recently announced that his next fight would be held at Manchester’s Co-op Arena in February. Additionally, he received the incredible news of being inducted into his hometown’s sporting hall of fame. This honour left him in awe, as he expressed, “I appreciate that someone’s even considered me to be on there to be honest.” It was a moment of pride and joy for him.

British Title vs Hall of Fame Induction

While the British title was a great achievement, Heaney revealed that being inducted into the city’s sporting hall of fame had surpassed it. His wife was in tears when the news was announced, and he had no prior knowledge. This induction will be formalised on 23 January, just as he is in the final preparation stages for his next fight on 8 February. The final details are still being negotiated, but the bout is now confirmed.

Fan Loyalty and Redemption

Heaney takes great pride in his loyalty to his fans. Hundreds of people have already bought tickets to his upcoming match, and he often goes the extra mile by hand-delivering tickets and choosing paper tickets instead of electronic passes to help them save money. His last fight ended in defeat, but this upcoming match offers him a chance at redemption. As he said, “My last time was the first time I’d ever suffered a defeat. Last week marked seven years since I made my professional debut, so it’s the first time in roughly seven years that I’d been beaten. It was gutting. This is the first one back where it’s like you’ve got to get back on to where you were before that loss.”

World Ranking and Future Plans

Before his loss to Brad Pauls in July, Heaney was ranked fifth in the world by the World Boxing Association. This bout was a rematch after their first encounter ended in a draw in March. Heaney also expressed his ambition to organise a fight at the Bet 365 Stadium on home turf, but he needs a few more wins to make that happen. He is determined to continue his journey and make his mark in the boxing world.