TWO former British champions have announced their retirement from boxing.
Mark Heffron, 30-4-1 (24 KOs), won the British super middleweight title in July 2022 stopping Lennox Clarke in five rounds. That attempt followed two unsuccessful tries at winning the middleweight version against Denzel Bentley and Liam Williams, respectively.
Hailing from Oldham Heffron (main picture) began his career on September 4, 2010 in the Netherlands with a second round knockout win over Torsten Roos. After fights in Poland and Hungary, Heffron would make his UK debut at the M.E.N Arena in Manchester on the David Haye-Audley Harrison undercard. He moved to 4-0 with a first round knockout win against Chris O’Brien.
The heavy handed ‘Kid Dynamite’ lost his British title in his first defence when Jack Cullen proved too good for him in September 2023 handing him a third-round stoppage loss. Heffron moved up to world level in his final fight against Christian Mbilli in Canada. The world title contender wiped out the Brit in one round.
Announcing his retirement on social media, Heffron said: “The time has come to retire from boxing. I’ve been having a good hard think lately and decided I’m going to hang up my gloves.
“I’ve been a professional in the sport since 2010 and it’s took its toll on my body and I also had different priorities back then, now I have two daughters to think about and your health is your wealth.
“I would like to say a huge thanks to everyone who played a part in my career starting with my manager Kevin Maree who’s always been there for me through the good and bad and guided me. I can trust this man with my life. A big thanks to all the many trainers I’ve had over the years. You started off as my trainers and I left having you as friends. I wouldn’t have been the fighter I was without all the knowledge I picked up from you all.
“Thank you to my promoter Frank Warren who I spent pretty much all my career with for giving me all the opportunities especially winning the British, commonwealth and IBF (Inter-Continental) titles which is what I always dreamed of – being the British champion.”
Marc Leach has also decided to hang up the gloves this week.
The Salford boxer finished his career with an 18-4-1 (4 KOs) record which included winning the English bantamweight and British super bantamweight titles.
Unlike many starting out Leach lost his debut to former Gamal Yafai opponent Bobby Jenkinson in 2014. The 39-38 points loss for ‘Livewire’ would be his only one for eight years as he embarked on a 10-fight winning run before a draw against Tapiwa Tembo in Harare ended that.
Leach would put another sequence together including victories over Louis Norman, Scott Allan, Qais Ashfaq and Thomas Essomba. And sandwiched in between was his English title triumph against Brett Fidoe.
His finest hour came on March 11, 2022 with a fine display of boxing to beat Chris Bourke on points to win the British 122lbs title. Since then Leach has lost three on the trot against Liam Davies, Masood Abdulah and Peter McGrail, respectively.
Earlier this week, Leach wrote on social media: “Today’s the day I announce my retirement from boxing. I’ve had some great ups but also some big downs and unfortunately ending with more downs than ups due to not having a fair chance.
“Third boxer from Salford to win the British title isn’t too shabby, one for the history books. Who knows, in another life might have gotten further with a fair crack but I’m not 18 no more so it’s time to put my kids first now and focus on them.
“Big thank you to all my coaches for their guidance from six years old until now and thanks to all my friends and family for buying tickets to come and support me through the years. Memories for a lifetime. Trying to stay in a gym by personal training and doing classes at Livewire Boxing, hopefully helping kids stay off the streets and teach them all my knowledge in the sport.”
