George Hennon makes sensational u-turn on pro boxing career
Welterweight prospect George Hennon (4-1) is heading back to the ring for the first time in almost six years!
The Kent puncher, who had five professional boxing fights between 2015-2016, will face 136-fight veteran Fonz Alexander (7-128-1, 4KO) over four rounds at the York Hall in London, this Saturday, June 25.
The 27-year-old’s last fight was way back in July 2016, which is when he decided to take a break from the sport, but he’s since been back in training for a whole year now preparing for this dramatic comeback.
Originally from Snodland, now residing in Maidstone, Hennon revealed he has a brand-new team for his second stint in the paid ranks, “I’m with Steve Goodwin now, as my manager, this is my first fight under him at the York Hall, which is ideal for everyone and a great venue.
“I’m being trained by George O’Mahoney, I’m his first pro and he’s an absolutely brilliant trainer. Not just in the gym, but he’s always ringing me up and checking I’m alright, there’s not much in the game that he doesn’t know, so training is going really well. I’m enjoying training and really enjoying going to the gym. I’m a happy fighter.”
It was seven years ago in June 2015 when 21-year-old fresh-faced George Hennon made his professional debut, but a lot has changed since then. His mindset has matured, his body bulked, and his understanding upgraded.
“That’s a huge thing that I’ve matured with, understanding my body, like you really do need that recovery. Don’t get me wrong, I always try to overtrain still; if I’m about to go to bed and haven’t done any training all day, it’ll eat me up. I have to train, even on a Sunday I feel like I need to do a light jog, but no, you need your rest, you need to recover. Now I know that, I feel like I do try and have a day, like on a Sunday, where I relax and just have an active recovery walk, like for 5k or something.
“I’m also having sports massages every week, which I’ve increased to twice a week in the build up to this fight, because I’m up doing strength and conditioning sessions twice a week, and sometimes I go into cryotherapy.”
A scaffolder by trade, George has been able to drop down to working just a few days each week with the help of sponsors to concentrate on his boxing career.
“I feel like I could earn money at whatever time,” he explained. “But I feel like for these next five to seven years, I’m just going to dedicate myself to boxing.”
With four victories and one loss on his record, Hennon was due to fight at the Copper Box Arena in December 2016, on a show promoted by Frank Warren that was broadcast on BT Sport. World champions James DeGale and Lee Selby were on the same card that night, but the young prospect was forced to withdraw through injury just weeks before. That disappointment then became the catalyst for his temporary retirement from boxing.
“I was booked in to have that fight in the Copper Box, but I had to withdraw because the injury on my bicep, and after that I did sort of fall out of love with the sport,” he admitted. “Obviously having trained all my life, my whole childhood; all the way up to my early 20s it was dedicated to training and fighting, and I sort of got to that stage where I felt like I needed a break. I felt like I needed to step away from it because the fire wasn’t there, the hunger wasn’t there, and obviously you can’t play boxing, you’re either 100 per cent or you’re not.
“Then me and my wife Belle got married, went and travelled to see the world a little bit. The break was mainly for mind, body and soul I think, and to find if I really wanted to do it or not. It weren’t until the middle of last year that I realised I really wanted another go and to see where I could go with it.”
George was only 21 when he entered the professional boxing scene and semi-retired at 22, so a lot has changed over the years, now that he is about to turn 28 in a few weeks time.
“Before I was still a baby really, my outlook on boxing was a lot different. I’ve matured so much more. In a sense I wanted to do it [boxing], but it wasn’t solely for me, I thought I just had to keep being ‘George the boxer’ and it was just expected of me, but I took a step back and this time around it’s all off my own back; it’s for myself and I want it now.”
Hennon started his combat career in kickboxing at just six-years-old and became a national champion, but made the switch to boxing in his teens.
“My whole mindset now is that I’ve given my whole childhood, since six years old, training and fighting all through secondary school, growing up all the boys were going out but I weren’t, I couldn’t. I’ve given so much to the fight game not to get something back out of it. I don’t feel like I’m owed something, but I’ve given so much to it, it would be silly for me not to try and make a career out of it.”
And the dramatic return has really piqued the interest of the local area, with 250 fans set to descend upon the East End to support their hero.
He confirmed, “My last fights I used to do about 100 tickets, but already I’ve got the money for 220 tickets right now and I’m still collecting, so it could go to over 250!”
One of those fans is former England captain John Terry, who saw the video of Chelsea FC fanatic George training in his gym on social media and immediately messaged to offer his support. Terry has been supporting him ever since, sharing messages on social media and texting him personally to offer his best wishes.
Now just days away from fight night, Hennon looked ahead to his comeback fight, which will be held over four three-minute rounds, “This fight is at 68kg, which is 10st 10lbs, but I’m already there on weight.
“We’ve been down to Kent Gloves with Lee Page for sparring with Lenny Fuller, Radoslav Saraliisk and Brooklyn Tilley,” he explained. “Also been to Westry ABC to spar with young Jimmy Dean and Mason Payne – they’re really good amateurs; and went to the Peacock Gym in Essex to spar Aaron Foster, that was a good spar.
“I feel a lot bigger and stronger now. I don’t know what to do about championship weight yet, if I can get down to super-lightweight and still feel strong then I will, but I’m not going to try and shift loads of weight, there’s no point getting in there and feeling weak.”
For his sixth pro bout and first fight back, his opponent will be tough journeyman Fonz Alexander from Newark, Nottingham. The 34-year-old has competed in over 600 rounds of professional boxing over the past eight years, sharing the ring with plenty of prospects and future champions, such as Gavin Gwynne, who is the reigning British and Commonwealth lightweight champ.
“Fonz is a tough fella, I think he’s only been stopped five times in about 140 fights or whatever,” Hennon praised. “My trainer George has slowed things down for me, I weren’t sitting down on my shots before, not as spiteful. If there was a combination there, I would try to get it out as quick as I could, but now it’s quality over quantity. I won’t go looking for a stoppage, but I’ll be nice and relaxed and loose, and if it comes, it comes.”
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