Heffron looking special, says trainer

Ronnie Heffron . . . raring to go.

Boxing: RONNIE Heffron embarks on a Merseyside mission on Saturday when he faces Wayne Downing at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

The four-round bout is on the undercard of Matthew Macklin and Ruben Varon’s eagerly-anticipated showdown for the European Middleweight Championship.

Heffron (20), a member of Anthony Farnell’s stable, can expect plenty of support if his last bout is anything to go by.

Farnell said: “Ronnie is more than ready for action — he is looking very special.

“He is a pleasure to work with because he lives for boxing. You would think that would make my job easier, but it’s harder when I get Ronnie ringing to ask for extra sessions!

“Sometimes I need to tell him to chill out and relax a bit.

“If he performs in the ring like he does in the gym, I can’t see Downing or anyone else at this level in Britain going the distance with Ronnie.

“He is a big, big talent who is only going to get better.”

A former ABA amateur title holder, Heffron has gone on record as saying he wants to get his hands on a British title by 2013.

But his trainer believes it could be sooner.

“If he carries on progressing at the same rate, he could achieve his goal within two years,” said Farnell.

“But obviously he is only young, so there is no point in rushing him.”

Heffron, nicknamed ‘The Razor’, has cut all three opponents down to size since turning professional last year.

Swansea journeyman Chris Brophy was retired by his corner at the end of the second round in Newcastle.

And the same thing happened in Liverpool against Karl Taylor, who had already been floored by a body shot.

That was followed by a unanimous points victory over Billy Smith at Birmingham’s LG Arena, in the ‘Magnificent Seven’ show.

West Bromwich-based Downing, a southpaw, has won five and lost 11 of his 16 fights.