Mark Heffron returned to winning ways with a frightening second-round knockout of Serhii Ksendovs in Oldham.
The popular Heffron always sells a good number of tickets when he fights in his hometown and the Oldham Leisure Centre was packed for this confidence boosting runout.
Heffron has been training with Lee Beard since Jack Cullen knocked him out and took his British and Commonwealth titles last November and showed glimpses of what the pair have been working on.
Heffron (30-3-1, 24 KOs) calmly stalked Ksendzov (4-22, 2 KOs), touching and probing for an opening rather than forcing his work. Eventually, an opportunity presented itself and Heffron took full advantage. He walked Ksendzov to the ropes and landed a right hand that knocked the Ukrainian out instantly, sending him through the ropes and onto the ring apron. The count was waved off immediately.
Ksendzov has been in with a number of British prospects in recent months but none have come close to hurting him the way Heffron did.
The Oldham man is now 32-years-old and should be beating opponents like this in conclusive fashion but this was another stark reminder that he carries the raw power to make him a legitimate threat to any super middleweight.
William Crolla (4-0, 3 KOs) maintained his unbeaten record with a second-round stoppage of the game George Sutcliffe (2-2, 1 KO).
The aggressive Sutcliffe promised to take the fight to the 25-year-old Mancunian and was as good as his word. Crolla absorbed a couple of jabs but bided his time as Sutcliffe loaded up with a wide right hook.
Early in the second round, Crolla got his feet into range and put a well-timed left hand over that right hand. A hurt Sutcliffe stumbled backwards into the ropes. Immediately sensing a finish, Crolla followed him and let both hands go until referee Darren Sarginson threw himself between the two.
