Nathan Heaney exclusive: It was horrible to lose

Nathan Heaney has licked his wounds and is ready for for another assault on the middleweight division.

In November 2023, Heaney’s dream run from the small halls of Stoke culminated in a stunning win over Denzel Bentley to win the British middleweight title.

Things didn’t go as well last year.

Last March, he and Brad Pauls battled to a brutal, exciting split draw. Although he maintained his unbeaten record, the result scuppered plans for a massive summer night at the home of his beloved Stoke City. Instead, he faced off in an immediate rematch with Pauls and was stopped in the twelfth and final round.

Having come so far and accomplished his lifelong goal, the wildly popular Stoke fighter had allowed himself to think a little bigger and losing his British title and undefeated record was heartbreaking.

Heaney, 18-1-1 (6 KOs), gets back to business this weekend when he boxes Frenchman, Sofiane Khati, 17-5 (6 KOs), on the undercard of Derek Chisora’s heavyweight fight with Otto Wallin. TNT Sports will televise the show. For all the latest fight odds, visit our sportsbook.

“I’ll be straight. It was horrible to lose. I mean, I went all that time. It’s more than seven years since I had my debut,” Heaney told 32Red.

“I was worried about letting everyone down”

“But the thing I was worried about the most was letting everyone down because I’m so well-supported, you think, ‘Oh my God. Is everyone going to come and see me next one on the back of a loss?’ but I’ve got to be honest, I’ve said they’re the best supporters and they genuinely are.

“But in terms of myself, absolutely gutted, never wanted it to happen but then you just sort of, I don’t know, you have a bit of a holiday, have a break, and then you just get back on the horse, and you just crack on.

Heaney is back and those loyal fans will be once again out in force on Saturday. Thousands of them will descend on Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena to roar Heaney on against Khati. It is almost seven months since he boxed Pauls and it is time for them, as well as Heaney, to let out all of the frustration that has built up since.

Heaney is determined to put on a show in the ring and is expecting his fans to display their own, unique passion.

“It’s a proper show. Obviously, Chisora is headlining and it’s a great venue in Manchester, the best city for boxing,” he said.

“It is mint in terms of being on a show like that but they know also the Stokies bring a unique atmosphere. There’s no denying it.

“It’s just not the same without my supporters”

When I go to these other shows – I went to the Jack Catterall – Regis Prograis fight, I went to the Denzel Bentley – Brad Pauls fight. I’ve been to another event as well. It’s just not the same without my supporters there.

“I know that it’s me saying it but there’s genuinely no noise or atmosphere like the one at my fights.”

Khati isn’t the type of opponent that Heaney thought he would be competing against at this stage of his career but beating the Frenchman will set him up for one more high profile run.

Last December, Heaney was at ringside as his two former opponents, Bentley and Pauls, collided for the British and European middleweight titles.

Although Pauls put in his usual, whole-hearted effort Bentley was just a little too skilful and smart and dropped him en route to a unanimous decision victory.

Sitting just feet away from the action, Heaney could see exactly what was happening and he left the arena enthused and determined to regain his standing.

Bentley is now the European champion and the mandatory challenger for the WBO title held by Janibek Alimkhanuly. Heaney is certain that if he can get the Londoner back in the ring, he can beat him once again.

“I have to perform out of my skin”

“I mean, Denzel Bentley boxed lovely. He boxed really well against Pauls. Brad was in it,” he said.

“I did some commentary for TalkSport and I said, ’It’s no different than me. I was pinging his head off for three rounds, and I switched off and he caught me.’ so, I said Pauls could switch this at any moment.

“But when I watched Bentley, although he boxed brilliantly I still saw the exact same person that I saw before I fought him the first time. I see the exact same person and I see the exact same outcome if we were to box again that happened in the first fight.”

None of that matters for the time being. The only thing Heaney needs to focus on is righting the ship against Khati. He has had a stark reminder of exactly what can go wrong if he doesn’t go into every fight with the same maniacal focus he had against Bentley.

“I know what happens when I have to step up like I did against Denzel Bentley. I have to perform out of my skin because I need to. No disrespect to Pauls, he beat me fair and square but I never thought that he could have beat me the way that he did and that’s a mistake on my part.

“I knew Denzel Bentley could knock me out at any second. I never believed that with Pauls, although he put me on my arse, didn’t he?”

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