George Hennon confirms new trainer as Billy Rumbol and next fight date on a Frank Warren show
Super-lightweight prospect George Hennon (4-1) has teamed up with new trainer Billy Rumbol at his Sittingbourne gym.
The 23-year-old from Maidstone has also revealed his first fight back after 16-months out of the ring will be on the undercard of James DeGale and Lee Selby’s BT Sport debuts on December 9 in London.
“I’m next out on the December 9th show at the Copper Box Arena on the undercard of the DeGale and Selby fights,” Hennon confirmed. “I’m over the moon with the opportunity to perform on such a big stage.”
It will be the Kent puncher’s first outing since July 2016, almost a year and a half ago. Debuting in June 2015, he very nearly crammed in all five fights within the first year when boxing under the Carl Greaves Promotions banner.
The 140-pounder was previously training with Johnny and Frank Greaves at the Peacock Gym in Canning Town.
The brothers steered the scaffolder from an amateur kick-boxing career to the paid ranks in boxing, notching up four wins from five fights. His sole loss was in the away corner against eight-time national amateur champion Sam Ball on the night when Ricky Burns became a triple world champion.
He explained the reason behind the move, “Well, basically, it was just down to my location at work changing. I was near to Canning Town and going straight from work to the gym there, but then I started working all over the place and it came too much of a pain to get to the gym after work, after a while.
“I arranged a meeting with a few trainers that were closer to me and more convenient to get to, like [former British super-bantamweight champion] Matt Marsh, but he trains during the daytime, which I couldn’t do.
“I needed something more local and suitable for me, so I went down to Rumbles Gym in Sittingbourne, and I’ve been friends with Bill for years, and it all just clicked into place. I'm really happy there.
“Staying in contact with Johnny [Greaves], he’ll still be involved in my career in some way or other.
“It was Johnny [Greaves] that was trying to make this particular fight for a few months, then last Sunday, watching Chelsea smash Man Utd, I got the phone call to say that the fight was available, so me and Bill started training every day after that, and then yesterday I got the call confirming the fight has been made.”
Hennon, who's opponent is yet to be announced, will be tackling an unbeaten prospect for the second time in his career and plans to take full advantage of his dramatic ring return on such a big platform.
“Taking a month off work unpaid, so I’m ready for this,” he enthused. “I’m really grateful to Tone Scaffolding for letting me have the time off to prepare for my biggest fight to date.
“A win will change my life; the experience will be incredible for me. I definitely think we’ll cause the upset.
“We were looking to get out in the New Year on a home show somewhere, but I took this opportunity when it came up.
“I’m not looking past this fight, whatever happens after this, we’ll look at after. You never know what’s around the corner, but there’s no plans yet for anything past December 9th.”
The Boys are Back in Town
DeGale and Selby top a huge night of boxing in London on December 9th at London’s Copper Box Arena.
James DeGale MBE will make the fourth defence of his IBF Super-Middleweight World Championship against Caleb Truax.
On the same evening, Welshman Lee Selby will make the fourth defence of his IBF Featherweight World Championship against undefeated Mexican Eduardo Ramirez, both fights will be shown live on BT Sport and BoxNation.
Light-Heavyweight ‘Beast’ Anthony Yarde (13-0, 12 KOs) defends his WBO Intercontinental and European belts against Nikola Sjekloca (32-4-1, 11 KOs), Heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois (5-0, 5 KOs) aims to continue his KO streak when he faces former Anthony Joshua opponent Dorian Darch (12-5-1, 1 KO) in his sixth contest.
Former English Middleweight Champion Joe Mullender (10-2-0 4 KOs) fights for the Vacant IBF European Middleweight Championship, while the hugely-popular former English Welterweight Champion Johnny Garton (20-1-1 7 KOs) fights for the Vacant IBF European Welterweight title.
Rising talents Archie Sharp (Welling), Sanjeev Sahota (Hornchurch), Ben Smith (Wycombe), Hamza Sheeraz (Ilford), Umar Sadiq (Ilford) and debutant Harvey Horn (Chigwell) complete an action-packed night of boxing.