Hyde Boxing: Prospect Mark Heffron Taking Fast Track

Former British amateur standout Mark Heffron, managed by Gary Hyde, is taking the fast lane in boxing having fought his first three professional bouts within a 30-day period in three different European countries.

The 18-year-old welterweight, fighting out of Cork by way of Manchester, England, had a successful pro debut September 4, stopping Torszten Roos in the second round.

Heffron’s next fight was only 13 days later in Poland, where he won a unanimous 4-round decision against 37-fight veteran Arek Malek. In his last action on October 2, “Kid Dynamite” lived up to his nickname by stopping 31-fight veteran Attila Molnar in the opening round of their bout in Hungary.

While other boxers are finding it difficult to secure fights, Mark fought his first three pro fights in less than a month. ‘We’re both very happy with his activity and progress so far,” Hyde said.

“Unfortunately, Mark’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, could not be in his corner for his last two fights. He had two high-profile fighters fighting in the United Kingdom, but Joe will be with Mark for all of his future fights. One of Ireland’s top coaches, Belfast’s Paul McCullagh, did a great job working Mark’s corner in those two fights in Poland and Hungary.”

Heffron (3-0, 2 KOs), however, is facing tougher opposition outside of the ring, in terms of boxing politics prohibiting him from fighting in the UK. Heffron’s grandparents are from Kildare, Ireland and Mark is extremely proud of his Irish heritage. This past July, Hyde was denied permission by the British Boxing Board of Control to act as an overseas manager (Ireland) for a BBB of C licensed fighter as Heffron was about to take out a BBBofC boxer license.

Heffron, who resides in Cork, Ireland, took out a Boxing Union of Ireland boxer license. The BBBofC were not to happy with this move, so they prevented “Kid Dynamite” from boxing in his scheduled pro debut September 5 in Wolverhampton, United Kingdom.

Heffron had sold more than 200 tickets for the Wolverhampton show, but three days prior to the fight, Hyde received a call from the show’s promoter informing him that the British Boxing Board of Control would not approve Heffron to fight on the Sept. 5 show because he wasn’t licensed by the BBB of C.

“I called Robert Smith of the BBB of C and asked him what could be done to resolve that situation and he stated that Mark wasn’t fighting and that the decision was final,” Hyde explained. “Mark was ready and well prepared for his debut and I wasn’t about to disappoint him by telling him his fight was off.

“I quickly arranged for ‘Kid Dynamite’ to fight Sept. 4th in Harleem, Neatherlands. We flew at 5 AM from Manchester to Dusseldorf (Germany), drove three hours to Harleem, and Mark won his fight that same afternoon. Because he was stilled barred from fighting in the United Kingdom, I had to arrange for Mark’s next two fights in Poland and Hungary. Mark shouldn’t be experiencing this sort of boxing politics, especially so early in his promising career.”

Heffron, of course, is taking an entirely different route than most prospects that have the advantages of fighting in their backyards. Mark has fought three opponents in their home countries, which Heffron had never been before, never mind previously fought there.

“I plan to get Mark three more fights before the end of this year,” Hyde added. “My plan is for him to get to 12-0 and challenge for the Irish Welterweight Championship. I hope to have the BBB of C problem taken care of before November 13th because Mark is scheduled to fight on the Haye/Harrison WBA Heavyweight Title undercard in Manchester.”

Heffron captured a gold medal at the Junior ABA Championships and silver at the European Youth Championships. He finds himself in good company with Hyde’s other fighters, 2-time Olympic gold medalist Guillermo Rigondeaux and Georgian 145-pound amateur star Levan Ghvamichava.

“Rigo” (6-0, 5 KOs), who is being touted as the hottest prospect in the world, is the WBA No. 3 rated super bantamweight despite having only six pro fights. Rigondeaux fights Ricardo Cordoba for the WBA Interim super bantamweight title on the Manny Pacquiao-Antronio Margarito card on HBO PPV live in Dallas, Texas also on November 13th.

In 2009, Ghvamichava attracted Hyde’s attention when he beat current World Senior Champion, former World Junior champion and 2008 Olympic bronze medalist, Rosniel Iglesias Sotolongo, of Cuba.