One of the surest signs that a fighter is nearing the end of training camp is the sight of the small gloves coming out of the kitbag for padwork.
Mark Heffron was a happy man. The previous evening he had completed the hardest interval sprint session of camp and he happily chatted away as he pulled on the very same pair of gloves he used to beat Lennox Clarke to win the British super middleweight title.
Heffron certainly looks ready for this weekend’s fight with Christian Mbilli. Judging by the crack the 10oz gloves made as he touched the pads with his trainer, Lee Beard, he sounds ready too.
Last year ended badly for Heffron. He lost his British and Commonwealth super middleweight titles when he was stopped in three rounds by his former gym mate, Jack Cullen.
This one has started much better. Heffron is happy with his new trainer, Beard, and the pair got their partnership officially underway with a confidence boosting victory. Then, his manager, Kevin Maree, worked his magic and conjured up the biggest opportunity of his career.
On Saturday night, Heffron, 30-3-1 (24 KO’s), will fight Mbilli, 26-0 (22 KO’s), in Quebec, Canada. A win over the highly ranked Mbilli would catapult the Oldham puncher up the world rankings.
“It was too good to be true. I’ve watched Mbilli over the years and thought he could fight. As soon as Kev put it to me I said ‘Yes’ straightaway. Styles make fights and I think this is going to be a good one,” Heffron told BoxingScene.
“They’re gonna be watching the Cullen fight – I hope they are anyway – and they’re gonna get a big shock on fight night.”
It is the type of opportunity that wouldn’t have come around had Heffron beaten Cullen. Mbilli is a popular, exciting fighter who is well positioned with every governing body and has begun to mention a fight with Mexican superstar, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez. This isn’t the time to be taking risks.
Anybody unfamiliar with the all action Mbilli won’t find it difficult to discover an extremely impressive record and a fearsome highlight reel but when Heffron and Beard began to delve a little deeper, they quickly identified possible routes to victory.
Mbilli’s record suggests that he is a big puncher but power is the one department in which the ferocious Heffron may well hold the upper hand. For the last two months, he and Beard have been working on ways to utilise that power and have formulated a plan.
“This is what I’ve worked my whole life for. To be on this stage, fighting out there in Canada against somebody like Christian Mbilli,” he said. “They’re saying he’s next in line to fight Canelo but when I watch Canelo, I think, ‘Wow, he’s unbelievable.’ When I watch Mbilli, I think he’s a good fighter but he’s nothing like a Canelo and I’ve seen a lot of vulnerabilities in him.
“It’s a very good fight for me. I think he’s made for me. He gets caught with a lot of shots. I’ve seen him in previous fights where he’s been in with non punchers and I’ve seen him get hurt. If I can land the shots that they were landing, I think I can get him out of there.”
Those who believe Heffron is stepping out of his comfort zone may be unaware of his background. Heffron may be Oldham-born, Oldham-bred but there may not be many more well traveled fighters in British boxing.
When Heffron was still an amateur, he made his way out to the famed Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles where Amir Khan used him as sparring ahead of his fight with Paulie Malignaggi. Heffron impressed Freddie Roach so much that the legendary trainer invited him to stay out there. Heffron then spent the early part of his career in Cork, where he lived alongside Hassan N’Dam and Guillermo Rigondeaux. As a professional, he has boxed in Holland, Poland, Hungary and Spain.
Traveling out to Canada shouldn’t affect him in the slightest. In fact, his long time friend and manager, Maree, has long believed that an away trip will bring out the best in him.
It may not be a coincidence that Heffron’s best performance came 200 miles away from home when he demolished British and Commonwealth champion, Clarke, in five rounds at the Copperbox Arena in London whereas his most disappointing appearances [stoppage losses to Liam Williams and Cullen] came at the AO Arena, less than half an hour from his home.
The Heffrons are a well known, popular family around Oldham and Manchester and the 32-year-old is a man in demand during fight week. Rather being able to relaxing and focus on the fight, Heffron can get pulled from pillar to post as well meaning friends inundate him with messages and ticket requests.
After the shock defeat to Cullen, Maree decided that the time was right to test his theory and used his Canadian connections to secure Heffron the opportunity.
“It’ll be good getting out there without any distractions and just being able to concentrate on the fight, I can’t wait,” Heffron said.
“It can be mental. My phone has to go on ‘do not disturb’ at times. I’m not being rude but sometimes I have to chill and try and just focus on the fight.
“I’ve actually done ticket runs on the day of my fight. I’m all over Manchester. I’ve been up to Accrington, and Rossendale [a 40 minute drive each way]. I’m out and about everywhere dropping tickets off.
“With less pressure I’ll be able to relax a lot more. On fight night – compared to when I’m in the gym – I honestly feel like I’ve not shown my full potential yet.”
Heffron has been working with Beard since the defeat to Cullen. Beard is a technical trainer with his own system of teaching. He initially had to convince Heffron that sometimes less can be more and is impressed by the way Heffron has fully bought into his methods. Heffron was an excellent amateur who has been guilty of falling in love with his power and Beard has worked hard on digging some forgotten weapons out of his toolbox.
“Lee is one of – if not the – best trainers I’ve worked with. He’s intelligent. He doesn’t do too much. I’ve had previous trainers who over train you and you end up over doing it. Lee’s been perfect for me,” Heffron said.
“I’ve been working on my boxing ability and getting my jab working. In this fight there’s gonna be times when I have to box. There’s gonna be times when I have to fight. He’s brought in sparring partners that have made me do it and I feel like I’ve adjusted to it well.
“The nutrition side of the boxing has fallen into place. I’ve always felt like my weights come down a bit quickly and I haven’t had the energy to do what I wanted to do. Lee’s kept my weight up. I can honestly say that I haven’t had one bad spar. I’ve felt energized and strong right the way through.”
Heffron’s fiancee, Rebecca, is expecting a second daughter. He appeared ready for lift off after winning the British title but any plans went up in smoke almost instantly. This weekend, he can reclaim that lost ground and make up a lot more. Beating Mbilli would be a life changing moment for him and his growing family.
“Poppy’s buzzing to have a little sister on the way, little Ruby Rose. That’s another thing that’s giving me the drive to keep pushing hard,” he said.
“This is the moment I’ve worked for. It won’t feel real but it will be real.”