Super Heffron roars to victory number 16

Photo: Darren Robinson

HARD GRAFT . . . Ricky Hatton puts Mark Heffron through his paces

OLDHAM'S Mark Heffron shrugged off a hand injury on his way to securing another impressive victory at a packed-out Victoria Warehouse.

Super-middleweight star-in-the-making Heffron (25) stretched his perfect professional record to 16 wins from 16 professional fights as referee Darren Sarginson handed the local hopeful a 60 points to 53 landslide decision after a great contest against brave Bartlomiej Grafka from Poland.

Heffron's punishing punching led to him suffering a swollen hand during the third round of a tough bout, but he should be back in ring action on July 15 at the Winter Gardens in Blackpool on the next VIP Promotions show.

Heffron, fighting for the first time since a recent switch of trainers to Hyde legend Ricky Hatton, said: "I really enjoyed that. I loved it, it was mint. I got a good six rounds in. I hadn't done six rounds for a long time.

"Everything I'd been doing in the gym with Ricky I tried in there, and I was landing perfect most of the time.

"My right hand went in the third round - it was the weirdest feeling ever. Hopefully it's not broken, though, and I can be out again in four weeks.

"There's still loads for me to work on, but I do feel Ricky can take me to the top now."

Hatton was delighted to see some of the gym work being deployed by his charge as he coasted to a well-deserved win in front of approximately 400 noisy Heffron supporters.

"Everybody talks about the heavy-hitting Mark Heffron, but he showed in this fight just how many sides there are to his game," said Hatton.

"He went southpaw, he's got great defence, movement. There was one occasion when his opponent fired in seven or eight attempted punches, but he just slipped and moved beautifully and didn't get caught.

"He showed real star quality and that makes everyone excited for what's in store in the future."

Top-of-the-bill Joe Murray secured his 21st victory from 23 fights as he gained a 78 to 74 points decision as he went toe-to-toe with Cardiff's Henry Janes.