BBN visited George Hennon (2-0) at his Kent home in an attempt to delve into the unbeaten prospect’s mind-set during ‘Fight Week’. The 21-year-old welterweight talent faces experienced veteran, Danny Donchev (6-85-2) in his third pro fight and first ever appearance at the ‘Home of Boxing’ York Hall on April 29th on a Dennis Hobson Promotions show, titled ‘Resurrection’. The 147-pounder, trained by Johnny and Frank Greaves and managed by Carl Greaves, tells BBN everything that goes on in the final week before stepping into the ring and dancing underneath those lights.
Monday:“When it’s fight week, you really switch on.” “I go for a nice, long, light run just to get a bit of a sweat on, then I chill for the rest of the day. I’ve got the whole week off work. I had a light spar with Frank Greaves at the Peacock Gym in London on Sunday, just four rounds then some pad work after. I go to bed early on fight week probably around 9-9:30pm, but I do that anyway because I have early morning starts. I eat my last light meal at around 7pm. Everyone’s always talking about the fight from this day onwards. My mates are wicked! Throughout the whole camp, I don’t really see them at all because I live in my own little shell for eight weeks and only see me girlfriend and family. My family are all very supportive and they take a lot of pressure of my hands as well. They’ve arranged for a 49-seater coach to take friends up there from Snodland and there’s no seats left.
Already had people saying to me today if I’ve got any tickets left! I’ve done over 100 already and will have to do a bit of running around this week to finish them off. Most normally come round to me to pick tickets up, which is good. Throughout the whole camp, I’m thinking about the fight but when its fight week, you really switch on and start going through the motions and what you’re going to do. I picture the whole day, what I’m going to do that morning on fight day right up until the actual fight.”
Tuesday:“Weight management, sharpening the tools and resting.” “I wake up as normal, not quite sure when training will be yet, probably in the afternoon. It’ll just be some light pad work with Frank [Greaves] and some shadow boxing, and getting myself in the zone when training. This whole week is all about weight management and sharpening up, getting some important rest in, and watching my weight. I was actually underweight when I woke up on Monday morning so just got to be sensible with it now. I’ve been able to add a bit more protein into my diet over the last couple of weeks and that’s helped to make me feel so much stronger.”
Wednesday:“No more training, resting up from this onwards.” “I’m pretty chilled out anyway but from this day I’m getting excited now, just can’t wait to go! There’s no more training, just totally resting up from this day on. If my weight wasn’t spot on, then I’d be going for a light run but it’s perfect so I won’t need to. Other boxers can get annoyed easily but I’m quite good with my moods, to be fair. There are moments, of course, when you do get ratty and sometimes I do get a bit like a pregnant woman! I love my food so when I’m starved of my chocolate, I do get the ball ache a bit. My girlfriend gets the brunt of it but she’s looking after me this camp.”
Thursday:“It’s a bit like Christmas Eve.” “It’s the longest day of the whole camp – the day before! Just waiting to go and the adrenaline starts to kick in. It’s a bit like Christmas Eve, you just want to go to bed early so the fight day rolls around quicker. I’m still selling tickets to the fight up to this point. I’ve done pretty well this time, I’ve sold almost 50 ringside tickets and 60 standard. I’m pretty chilled out about this part of things really. I know that for others, it’s the biggest stress there, but as soon as I know I’ve covered the opponent and the house, then I’m happy; I’m not too bothered about what I earn myself. I used to stress about it back when I was in kickboxing but there’s no point. Fortunately, selling tickets in the pros has always been sound. I have a pre-fight ritual which I do the day before I fight. I go up to see my nan and grandad in Ipswich and she’s quite religious, being a Catholic, so she gives me a blessing and uses holy water and a bit of a prayer to ask that both fighters stay safe. It’s not about praying for me to win, it’s for both of us in the ring to stay safe and healthy.”
Friday:“I literally just chill out until I’m ready.” “The first thing I do when I wake up on the morning of the fight is to jump on the scales to see how my weight is. Then, I have a bit of breakfast, usually porridge, then start to get my bag ready to take with me. This time, with the fight being on a Friday, everyone in the house is at work so I can sit down and get in the zone a little bit before I leave. I don’t drive to my fights because you never know what’s going to happen in fights, plus I don’t want to use up all my energy and concentration on driving when I should be relaxing. I get weighed in at about 4pm and after that I can relax knowing the hard work has all been done, and I eat my grub. I normally have sweet potato and chicken, nothing too heavy because I’ve starved myself for eight weeks so don’t want too much to digest, especially when I’m on second as there’s not enough time. I literally just chill out until I’m ready. I know a lot of people like to listen to music but I just like to have a chat with Frank [Greaves] or Johnny [Greaves] but he’s in Tenerife for this one. It was an unfortunate clash of dates but he has trained me the whole way through the camp but it’s just one of those things, it’s a shame but it is what it is. I’m the only one in the ring when the bell sounds and I’m used to having Frank in the corner anyway.
I’ve also got Jason Fielding in the corner with me and Simon from the Peacock Gym. I mentioned that I’m on second, which is perfect, for me. Danny Maclaren asked me when I’d like to be on and I said that I don’t want to be first because no one likes to be first on, but I like to get it done early so I said second and he said ok. I’ve never had that before! Normally, you just get told what to do. I get my kit on and hands wrapped around an hour before the fight and then start loosening up. I just go with what Frank says, although normally it’s Johnny telling me. They dictate to me what to do and when to do it so I don’t have to watch the clock and I can relax. I like to get a few rounds in on the pads, not proper three-minute rounds or going too hard but I like to be warm and have a sweat on because that’s when I’m sharp and at my best. As soon as the bell goes for me, that’s when I’m switched on and ready for war. You get a lot of people that like to stare down but I’m just in my zone. I’ve not really got an evil face so I can’t pull off that intimidation thing, people would start laughing at me! When I walk in and hear the crowd, it’s the best feeling – can’t beat that! All my support are so loud, it’s overwhelming, plus, this is York Hall, my first one at this venue, so I’m excited!”
Resurrection starts at 7pm on Friday 29th April at the York Hall, Bethnal Green. The talent-packed show also includes fellow undefeated welterweights Johnny Coyle (12-0-1), Louis Adolphe (4-0), and Kian Thomas (5-0), as well as top bantamweight talent Brad Watson (10-1), featherweight Craig Whyatt (7-3), light-heavyweight Kirk Garvey (3-0), super-middleweight Mohammed Mustapha (1-0-1), lightweight ID Hill (3-0), and exciting middleweight Tey-Lynn Jones (1-0).
For tickets to the show please call 07534 502 289 To follow George Hennon on Twitter click here @georgehennon12 George Hennon would like to thank his sponsors Business Buddy Group and NCQ Psychotherapy and The T-Shirt Shop and PR Manager Tim Rickson