Rising super-lightweight star George Hennon reveals why he’s a different fighter in 2023

UK prospect George Hennon chasing titles in 2023

Super-lightweight prospect George Hennon (7-1, 1KO) spoke to GBN during his training camp for his first fight of the year at the York Hall, Bethnal Green, on Saturday, March 18.

The Maidstone man enters into his ninth professional contest and second consecutive six-rounder on the stacked Goodwin Boxing show in the East End.

28-year-old Hennon had five professional fights between 2015-2016, winning four from the home corner and losing one away on a Matchroom Boxing show in Scotland.

After a five-year break, Hennon returned to boxing with unfinished business in 2022 and teamed up with trainer George O’Mahoney to make his comeback, which has gleaned three wins within five months.

Now the 28-year-old, signed to Goodwin Boxing, enters 2023 as a full-time pro, in what is set to be a breakout year for the youngster.

George spoke to GBN about his forthcoming fight:

Since becoming a full-time pro, what differences have you noticed?

“Recovery. Being able to sleep properly, not having to get up at 5am to go for a run before work; I can wake up at a sensible time and feel well recovered.

“In-between sessions, I can train, go home, and recover properly, so I’m ready for the next session. It’s so much better. I feel energised before every session now and, hand in hand with the nutrition, I’m seeing much better results.

“I’ve been travelling at least twice a week to either The Peacock or to Alec Wilkey’s gym, sparring with Dean Richardson, Liam Wells, Billy Allington, and even a 200-bouter amateur from the Finland National Team!”

We understand that you have a nutritionist on board for this camp?

“Paul O’Neill from Pro Nutrition Clinic , he’s worth his weight in gold. The difference in physique and how I feel in myself is just like night and day from anything that I’ve done before. I feel stronger even though the weight is coming off.

“We done scans for body fat and muscle mass at the start of camp on 11th January, and since then my body fat percentage has come down, but my muscle mass has actually gone up, which is mad really, to think of all that training and that weight I’ve lost and I’ve not lost any muscle mass, which is brilliant. I’ve had to invest in it but it’s worth doing because the results are incredible. I’ve gone from 13% body fat down to 5.2%

“I used to eat fruit like it was going out of fashion, especially things like red grapes and apples, which I haven’t this time; and I was fuelling at the wrong times, like sometimes, during sparring, I wouldn’t be fuelled up for the spar and felt fatigued in training, but having a nutritionist means I’m fuelling before every session, not just to lose weight, and I’m eating the right food at the right time, so like before a session I can still get a little of the food I enjoy even though I’m cutting weight.

“This fight is going to be the lowest I’ve been since my return; this is scheduled at 65kg. I still plan to do championships at super-lightweight, which is 63.5kg, which I would never make on the day weigh-in, but nutrition-wise I’m basically not too far off it now and I feel great.”

You scored your first stoppage win against Teodor Nikolov in your last fight in November, was it a relief to finally get that elusive knockout?

“My power has naturally improved and, getting that stoppage, it was only really a matter of time. Since fighters are gonna come and actually have a go with me, that’s where I’m going to start being able to put all them boys away.

“It works in my favour really, not to have them real durable journeymen that have done a hundred odd fights, so yeah, the better in class I step up obviously if they fancy having a go then the more stoppages I’m going to get.”

Your next opponent is another journeyman, Kasey Bradnum (1-3), but what do you know about him?

“He actually won last weekend, he beat someone in a six-rounder. He is definitely better than his record suggests, so he’ll come to have a go.

“He’s alright, nothing special, but he’s not one of these people who is just gonna be covering up and running, he looks like he comes and he has a swing with you.

“But I’m not taking too much from what he’s doing; I’m still focused on myself, but he’s definitely a step-up. I really do hope he comes with a bit of ambition.”

What’s next for you, providing you get another win?

“I’ll see what Steve Goodwin says and [trainer] George, but if an opportunity comes up for the Southern Area title in either June or September then hopefully they will put me in for my first title fight, so just got to keep on pushing on from now.”

You sold over 160 tickets for your last fight, do you anticipate big numbers for this fight too?

“Same number again, so about 160 came last time, and on track to be the same for this fight. Unbelievable noise every time I make that ring walk, singing the whole way through, just so overwhelming when I look back at it.”

Follow George on Facebook and Instagram

GB Fight Series 15

Two Southern title fights headline the stacked nine-fight card in the East End on Mother’s Day weekend.

Top of the bill sees Lithuanian-born Londoner Denis Denikajev (9-0-1, 2KO) defending his Southern Area super-lightweight title to Hitchin’s Tom Ansell (10-2, 2KO), who is never in dull fight. These 140-pounders have sparred together in the past, so know each other well.

In the co-main event, it’s repeat or revenge as Goodwin Boxing’s ‘Gypsy’ Peter Mirga (6-1) rematches with former conqueror Ryan Walker (12-3, 4KO) for the vacant Southern Area super-bantamweight title.

Polish-born Mirga, from Southend, pushed Ryan “The Lion” to a close decision in 2019, reversed 97-94 against him. Now signed to Goodwin Boxing, Mirga has bounced back with a win, whereas Walker has lost three from his last four.

Jerome “Stay Ready” Campbell (6-1, KO) returns to the ring for the first time since his loss to WBC Silver featherweight champion Nick Ball. After a break from boxing due to personal reasons, the Londoner is back after almost three years away.

Unbeaten Shocki Khan, Ellis Steward and Ahmed Hatim are also in action on the card.

Article sponsored by HÖRFA