Francesca Hennessy retains it in household with dad as supervisor and impressed by nan
Francesca Hennessy is keeping the family name in the boxing business and ensuring she’s doing it for her late nan.
The teenager takes the next step she hopes is on the ladder to the top when she appears on the undercard of Chris Billam-Smith’s WBO cruiserweight title defence against Richard Riakporhe this weekend.
Hennessy, 19, is the daughter of well-known promoter-turned manager Mick, who guided the careers of the likes of Carl Froch, Tyson Fury and, most recently, Savannah Marshall.
And she had to convince her dad to let her follow him into the sport. “My mum wasn’t too fond on the idea of me boxing,” said Hennessy, whose brother Michael has previously tried to make a name for himself in boxing.
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“My dad knew I had talent, but he didn’t want me to be involved because he knows how hard this sport is. I sat him down and told him I really do love the sport and I’ve got a passion for it.
“My dad said, ‘If this is your dream then I’ll help you through it but you need to be 100 per cent because you can’t mess around in a sport like boxing’. It’s scary for him as a parent. He believes in my talent and I believe in my talent.
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“I just trust my dad with everything. Whatever he tells me goes. I know how well he knows the sport. With my dad and trainer Bradley Skeete, I’ve got amazing experience behind me.”
Hennessy has caught the eye of some punters with her flamboyant style in the ring and also on her ringwalks. “Since I’ve been a young girl, I’ve always been dancing,” she said.
“At family parties I’d be dancing, it has always been in me. I think that’s down to my dad. He loved the flair style. He liked the flair style of shots coming from different angles, a bit of fun.”
Hennessy, who faces Poland’s Dorota Norek at super-bantamweight, has grand ambitions of being an undisputed champion and potentially the youngest ever but she has a long way to go.
Having gone through her teens training with former middleweight world champion and her idol Marshall, she’s seen what it takes. But she also has her nan, Joan, as an inspiration. She passed away during the training camp for this weekend.
“My nan was my best friend,” added Hennessy. “During camps when I wasn’t going out with friends, I would go see my nan and have a cuppa.
“The week after my fight we would go eat loads of food together and treat ourselves. It’s been tough for me but it has now given me inspiration to go do it in her name.”
Streetwear and sports brand Champion is sponsoring Francesca Hennessy, part of the brand’s mission to support and amplify rising UK stars.
