Mark Heffron Stops Lennox Clarke in 5 for Controversial Victory
The domestic level scene is the minor league of boxing, before fighters walk through the door of world-level status. This brings us to BBBofC British/Commonwealth super middleweight titlist Lennox Clarke (21-2-1, 8KO) facing “Kid Dynamite” Mark Heffron (28-2-1 22KO). The IBF Inter-continental title being on the line guaranteed a spot in the ranking and highly motivated both fighters.
RELATED: Lennox Clarke: “The Heffron Title Fight Will Be Fireworks And I’ll Win!”
Heffron has been in this position quite a few times. He was ready to make the transition to the global stage before losing to middleweight title challenger Liam Wiliams for the BBBofC title in 2018. In 2020, He once again came close to getting over the threshold before suffering a second defeat in a rematch for the BBBofC title against Denzel Bentley.
Clarke has tasted defeat while learning on the job and finally stepped up against top ten ranked Lerrone Richards in 2019. He learned from that experience and bounced back nicely by winning both British titles. Finally injury-free and coming off a long layoff, he came ready to win a tough fight.
IT WAS A WAR EARLY
Both fighters came out looking to land a bomb early. Clarke got right up in Heffron’s chest and started digging into the body. Then just like that, Kid Dynamite landed a thunderous right hand that put Clarke on wobbly legs. Heffron went on the attack, landing everything including the kitchen sink.
Clarke survived the first round only to land a right hand of his own that put Heffron in retreat mode. He then pinned his opponent against the ropes and landed more painful left and right hooks.
After two fast-paced rounds, Heffron started to slow things down by using the jab and keeping the fight in the center of the ring. Clarke tried to return fire by landing a solid body shot, yet Heffron controlled his opponent with the jab and hurt Clarke with a brutal body shot.
THE THIRD TIME WAS THE CHARM
Obviously, this fight was not going the distance. In the fifth round, it came to an end. Both fighters were trading punches in a phonebooth-fight and Heffron landed a left hook to the temple, which was the beginning of the end for Clarke.
Heffron unloaded with a left hook, right-hand combination that forced the referee to jump in and stop the fight prematurely. Clarke immediately protested the stoppage, pushing the referee and Heffron out of his corner.
Finally, after three tries, Heffron has captured the British title and the IBF minor title. However, with such a controversial stoppage, a rematch could be in order.
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By: Garrisson Bland
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