Retiring boxer Nathan Heaney thanks fans for emotional send-off

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nathan Heaney has retired with a record of 19 wins, one draw and three losses in his 23 professional fights

By Phil Cartwright

BBC Sport journalist

• Published12 minutes ago

Retiring Stoke-on-Trent boxer Nathan Heaney has thanked his “very special” fans for their superb send-off at his final bout, saying his followers have “made” the best nights of his career.

The 37-year-old, a former British middleweight champion, lost on points to Welshman Gerome Warburton in Birmingham on Saturday.

He told BBC Radio Stoke: “The pressure I put on myself in the build-up thinking I had to win the fight, because if I don’t I’ve ruined everything – that’s the mentality I had going in.

“I knew it was close but in the end, when I’d officially lost, I looked out and there was a wall of 2,000 Stokies – probably more – and not a single one had left the venue early. They were all singing and they made me feel immediately that I hadn’t ruined anything.

“It’s them that have made it all anyway, I’ve just won the titles, but they’ve made these nights what they are.

“To every single person who was there, thank you, you’re very special people.”

• Warburton beats Heaney in rematch to retain title

  • Published1 day ago

• Davies at a crossroads as Heaney’s journey ends

  • Published3 days ago

Heaney, who made his professional debut in 2017, ended his career with a record of 19 wins, one draw and three defeats in 23 contests.

He beat Denzel Bentley in November 2023 to win the British title and his first defence was a draw against Brad Pauls in March 2024, with the rematch four months later going in Pauls’ favour.

Reflecting on his career, Heaney said: “I’m very proud. You see things online and 99.9% are favourable and nice, but you do get comments from people who say you’re just bang average.

“OK, I might be bang average, but I won many titles over the years. I became the British middleweight champion and to become the British champion is not average.

“It was a very big achievement.”

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