CHRIS DEAN / BOXXERThe emergence of Fran Hennessy marks the second instalment in the relationship between the boxing family and Britain’s national broadcaster.
Some 20 years ago, Hennessy’s father, Mick, promoted fights on the BBC, with the likes of Carl Froch, David Walker, John O’Donnell, Lee Megaer and Matthew Thirlwall all getting exposure.
Tonight, Mick’s 21-year-old daughter Fran headlines the bill at the Copper Box Arena.
“It links massively with my dad's journey with the BBC for me, because my dad was the last promoter 20 years ago to promote on the BBC… one of the last,” says Fran. “I was one year old when he was doing that, so it's kind of a full circle moment being on the BBC and performing on the BBC. It just feels right, it feels like the right time and it's the right moment.”
Fran boxes fellow unbeaten Ellie Bouttell in a contest that was elevated to main event status after injuries sustained to Adam Azim and Gustavo Lemos.
And, as always, dad Mick will be beaming from ringside and that is something Fran loves to see.
“I get a massive kick out of it,” she smiles. “In my life, I just want to make my parents proud, you know, my mum and my dad, they're everything to me. So, just seeing them happy and seeing them proud of me and everything they've done for me is paying off. That’s the main thing for me.”
It is the youngster’s goal to become the youngest women’s undisputed champion. Time is of the essence, though, as she’s only a year younger than the record-setting Gabriela Fundora.
But the 7-0 (1 KO) Hennessy believes her goal is realistic.
“Definitely, 100 per cent,” she insists. “I believe when I’m 100 per cent I beat anyone. So, yeah, I believe definitely, but my full focus is on Ellie Bouttell this weekend, but I know what I’m capable of.”
Asked to factor in boxing politics, does she think she will be able to join the dots and capture all of the belts in record time?
“There’s a lot of politics in boxing, but I believe with the team I’ve got around me and stuff, it will come together. But at the moment, I’m just fully focused on this weekend. I know what I’m capable of. I know what I’m going to do. But I have to keep my full focus on that because I’m treating this as my world title fight because that’s how I will get to it.”
When she started training for Saturday’s contest at the Copper Box, she did not know she was going to be the main event, potentially taking a ringwalk in front of an audience that surpasses anything she’s experienced before.
“Look, it’s more pressure, isn’t it?” she acknowledges. “But I love the pressure. People have seen time and time again, every time more pressure is put on me I rise to it and I believe that’s what I’m going to do Saturday night. I’m going to go in there to make a statement. I’m not just going in to win, obviously, win at all costs, but I’m going in there to make a statement and give the viewers exactly what they deserve.”
Her father, will of course, be grinning from ringside as his daughter makes her ringwalk.
“It’s incredible,” Mick smiles. “To think I started out as a BBC promoter and I was there for a few years and really enjoyed my time at the BBC, incredible times and to think Fran opened the show on the first show back for the BBC after 20 years, and now she’s headlining, I’m incredibly proud. Incredibly honored, as well.
“I’ve loved the transformation, from a baby, really. I’ve loved it. Fran’s a very unique character, and I know most dads are gonna say that, her journey, she astounds me every day. To think she was a little bit lost at school, and overweight, dyslexic – which we didn’t know at the time – didn’t enjoy school, but even though she was overweight and out of condition there was something there. She liked sport.”
She was okay at throwing events, but when she started playing badminton in the back garden, Mick saw some potential owing to her reflexes, timing and movement.
Fran now hopes she will inspire children at that age.
“You know, a lot of it is to inspire the next generation,” she says of what she does today. “I think because a lot of people have seen videos of me when I was younger, I was quite overweight. I was very insecure in myself. I wasn’t very confident in myself. And I want younger kids to know that they can do anything they put their mind to, that they dream of. There’s definitely that aspect. I know that a lot of young kids have messaged me lovely messages asking advice and things like that. And that to me is just everything, having the younger generation ask advice of me is just crazy. I want to continue to do well for them, but also for myself and my family… just giving my family a great life. My mum and my dad, I want to give back to them so much and they’ve given me a phenomenal upbringing. And for me, it's just like I want to give back to them, but also do myself proud.”
And Fran is also grateful to the sport for her physical and emotional transformation.
“A million per cent, because I didn't enjoy any exercise or anything,” she explains. “But when boxing came on board, I just fell in love with it. Like, honestly, it was all I could think about when I was younger. I’d follow my dad and brother to the boxing gym all the time and I just completely fell in love with the sport. And it just kind of I was losing weight, but in a fun way. I loved it. I didn’t even realize I was losing weight because I was loving my time in the gym. I do owe a lot to boxing.”
And the dream for the family is for Fran to reach the top.
Mick had success as a promoter, perhaps most notably with Tyson Fury and Carl Froch.
“Her ambition is to become a multi-weight undisputed champion,” says Mick. “But her goals are just as big outside the ring. She’s got a lovely combination of being very sensitive and caring but quite fierce when she steps in the ring or if anyone attacks her friends and family. And she wants to inspire others. She backs charities and is looking to get involved with more, working with kids, inspiring young kids. I think she feels like that’s her biggest role, that she can make a platform to really help. She’s a very caring young lady.”
