NATHAN’S FINAL RING FLING

 

THE STRAINS OF Tom Jones belting out Delilah will accompany a Nathan Heaney ring entrance for the final time on Saturday in Birmingham, with the Stoke favourite having given advance notice of his retirement when his fight with Gerome Warburton draws to a conclusion.

A gentleman of the sport, the passion and spirit of Heaney when he takes to the ring will not be forgotten in a hurry and he can serve as an inspiration to others wondering if dreams can come true.

The fights of Heaney, 37, became events all of their own. He never got the big fight he longed for on home soil, but the ’Stokies’, as he calls them, never failed him and followed him in their thousands.

And nobody will ever forget his Delilah ring walk. It took on iconic status.

But all good things come to an end and Heaney intends to go out on a high in his rematch with Warburton for the WBA Continental middleweight title.

“It is very strange and almost like it is not happening, to be fair, in regards of it being my last ever fight,” admitted the Hitman. “I don’t think my emotions will kick in until post-fight.

“I have always envisioned when I retire from the sport that I will retire on my terms and, ideally, with a win as well. The main objective is to retire as a champion.

“He is a legitimate opponent and someone who has beaten me. I heard the comments about how he beat me convincingly in the first press conference but, if anything, he pinched it.

“That is for me to rectify now,” he added, before explaining why his longing to go out with a bang will bring about some welcome tension..

“No, I need some pressure. The pressure for this one is that I need to retire as a champion. I only perform when I’ve got a bit of fear.”

The highlight is obvious, becoming British champion at the expense of now world champion Denzel Bentley in November 2023.

“The Bentley performance was one of the greatest achievements in our Stoke sporting history and I was at the centre of it. I was a massive 9-1 underdog, nobody gave me a chance and I boxed beautifully, if I do say so myself!”

In an ideal world for Heaney, he would have spent the last 10 years or so banging in goals for his beloved Stoke City, but it is boxing and a wish to have his career guided by Frank Warren that ultimately put his name up in lights.

“I’ve been boxing since the age of seven and in fights from 11, but I was forced into boxing by my dad. I did enjoy it, but I wanted to be a footballer, first and foremost.

“At the age of 17 I knew I wasn’t going to be a footballer, but I was beating some very, very good lads on the amateur scene.

“I thought if I am beating these lads and not putting my all into boxing, what could I do if I did put my all in?

“So I then had the objective of winning the ABA title and getting signed by the best promoter in the world, which is Frank Warren. That is what my focus was then.

“I didn’t win the ABAs and I retired at the age of 26 with 90 fights behind me to take up a teaching placement.

“I thought I would turn pro and if I didn’t sell tickets at least I would have no regrets. I sold 60 on my debut and took that to thousands until Frank Warren, the man I dreamed of signing for, moved to sign me.

“I’ve now been signed to him for six years, we have had some incredible nights and I have loved boxing for Frank. I’ve loved every second of it.”