Retiring Stoke-on-Trent boxer Nathan Heaney has thanked his “very special” followers for their very good send-off at his remaining bout, saying his followers have “made” the best nights of his profession.
The 37-year-old, a former British middleweight champion, lost on factors to Welshman Gerome Warburton in Birmingham on Saturday.
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He advised 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 finish, when I’d formally lost, I regarded out and there was a wall of 2,000 Stokies – in all probability more – and not a single one had left the venue early. They were all singing and they made me really 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 individual who was there, thank you, you’re very particular people.”
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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 issues online and 99.9% are beneficial and good, but you do get feedback 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.
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“It was a very massive achievement.”
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