Fran Hennessy has already built a following, and on Saturday she boxes in front of a national audience on the BBC.
The 6-0 (1 KO) super bantamweight from Kent boxes the former champion Fabiana Bytyqi at the Valiant Live Arena in Derby, England on the undercard on Saturday evening of Frazer Clarke-Jeamie Tshikeva.
“I know Fabiana’s a great fighter, she’s a lot more experienced than me, but I’m ready for it,” said Hennessy, daughter of the promoter and manager Mick. “I’ve been working for months on end. I’m in the best shape of my career, and I know I need to be.”
Hennessy, 21, has not boxed since March but she said she’s been working behind closed doors and improving. She’s also grown her fanbase online, and has inspired young fighters with her incredible weight-loss story.
“What’s the point in having a platform if you can’t use it for positiveness?” she added. “It was nice to see how many views that video got and it inspired a few people and I got some lovely messages, so I thank everyone who’s messaged me on that. That’s what I’m here for, not only to achieve greatness but to achieve greatness outside the ring.”
Bytyqi, a seasoned Czech who is 22-2-2 (5 KOs), said she was happy to be fighting on the road.
“I had three dreams in boxing – to become a pro, to become a world champion, and the last one was to box in England or America, so I’m glad that it’s coming and I’m looking forward to this fight because I want to fight great fighters, which Francesca obviously is,” she said. “We will see how it goes on Saturday.”
Bytyqi, who is moving up in weight, said that that would suit her, and that the experience of already having held a title would stand her in good stead.
“I feel pressure, but it’s healthy pressure – I enjoy it,” she said.
Her promoter Ben Shalom is clearly enthused by Hennessy’s prospects.
“There are some fighters that embrace the spotlight and want it more and want bigger challenges,” he said. “Francesca is that fighter. To be doing this at [her age] is phenomenal. To be doing this after six fights is even more crazy to think. We could be looking at the youngest undisputed champion. That’s how I feel about her, but she’s got a huge moment now… A potential superstar is going to be announced on Saturday night.”
