Nathan Heaney has all but confirmed his retirement in a social media post.
The popular fighter suffered another stoppage defeat last night at Manchester’s Co-op Live Arena. Heaney lost his British title to the big-punching Brad Pauls back in July and was matched hard against French middleweight champion Sofiane Khati in his comeback of sorts.
The now 18-5 (7 KOs) Khati’s record does not suggest he is the biggest of punchers but once the Frenchman landed clean shots, it was game over for Heaney. The Stoke-on-Trent-based fighter, who is approaching his 36th birthday, looked miles off the pace and unable to deal with fresher man in Khati.
Heaney, a huge ticket-seller in his hometown of Stoke, has treated his fans to some memorable nights over the years – his most famous, an upset win against former world title challenger Denzel Bentley for the British title. A former teacher, Heaney had given up boxing after a spell as an amateur at Liverpool’s famous Rotunda ABC, but came out of retirement to roll the dice as a professional and achieved more than he set out to.
It now, however, looks like we have seen the last of Heaney in a boxing ring, as well as his iconic walk to Tom Jones’ “Delilah”. The now 18-2-1 (7 KOs) fighter took to his X account to post a message to his loyal fans, over 2,000 of whom turned out to watch him in Manchester on Saturday.
The post read: “Stoke-on-Trent, thank you for everything ❤️ I started this journey 7 years ago, with no other objective than to ‘give myself 3 years, and if nothing happens then at least I’ll have no regrets’ and what happened over that time was every dream I ever had as a kid…
“To be signed by Hall of Fame Promoter Frank Warren, to be part of the biggest sporting nights our city has seen, from our local town hall to the bright lights of TNT Sports and the biggest arenas in the UK, becoming the British champion, it’s all been very surreal, and more than I could ever have imagined…
“I have given my absolute life to the sport, and competed every year for the last 24 years, having had 111 fights in total, 90 as an amateur and 21 as a pro… I really need to think of my next step, but I also need to realise that I must think about my beautiful family, friends, and city for everything they have given to me.
“Boxing is an unforgiving sport.
“Thank you to my sponsors AMB Insurance, Potteries Mechanical Services, Elite Sheet Piling, Terraces, USN & WJ UK. These guys backed their man and allowed me to dedicate every second to the sport with no worries needed.
“Thank you for TNT sports, and thank you to the promoter I always dreamed about boxing for; Frank Warren.
“But lastly, and most importantly thank you to YOU. You will know who you are, every person who has been there supporting me every step along the way. I had dreams, but it was only with you that they became a reality. I am forever indebted to you ❤️
“It’s going to be very hard these next few months, but I have to remember I did everything I could to come home… I did absolutely everything. Stoke may never have happened, but the memories along the way certainly did.
“I’ve been a boxer my whole life, it’s all I’ve known…
“I’m absolutely heartbroken.
“It’s a very sobering moment, but again thank you and I hope you all had a great day/night 🤝
“I’ll always be one of your own.
If this is the end for Heaney he has been a wonderful example for young fighters coming through; always respectful, no bad blood, and never turns down an interview.
A proper fighter and a great servant to the sport.
Read the full article here
