'Defeat may end my career' – Heaney on must-win fight
Former British middleweight champion Nathan Heaney says his comeback fight next month is one he has "got to win" if he wants to get his career back on track.
Heaney, 34, returns to his home city of Stoke for the first time in five years as he takes on Grant Dennis at the King's Hall on 26 July.
It will the first time Heaney has fought since being stopped by Sofiane Khati in February in Manchester on the undercard of heavyweight Derek Chisora's final UK fight.
"This is where my career started at the King's Hall with probably 100 people in 2018," Heaney told BBC Radio Stoke.
"We've sold out arenas all over the country in the last five years and now I get the opportunity to come back and get back on track.
"I've got to win. Win this fight and then big things can happen off the back of it."
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Defeat by Khati was Heaney's second of his career and came seventh months after he lost his British crown to Brad Pauls in a rematch in Birmingham following a split-draw in their first meeting.
Those back-to-back losses have cranked up the pressure – and the jeopardy – for his bout with former European title challenger Dennis.
But Heaney is not phased by the enormity of the situation and remembers the build-up to his British title-winning fight with Denzel Bentley in November 2023.
"When I boxed Denzel there was a lot of pressure on me," he said.
"The anxiety was ridiculous but you only had to look at my performance on the night so see how that can affect you positively.
"Career-wise, it is the most important one by far. I have to win but it's a very hard and unforgiving sport and you can't take anything for granted."
Heaney still holds the burning ambition to fight at the home of his beloved Stoke City – the bet365 Stadium – and knows that will only happen if he wins.
"Five years ago when I last fought at the King's Hall when it was sold out, the videos went viral and that's what got me signed by Frank Warren," he said.
"It's a reminder of what the city is and the demand for it is. We need a bigger place and we've got one – the football stadium – so I need to get back on track to make sure that can happen.
"My dream is to end [my career] at Stoke City but if that didn't happen, 26 July could be the last time I fight in Stoke.
"If I was to lose then it will probably be the last time I ever fight. I've never imagined retiring on a loss but sometimes you have no choice."
'I need to be scared'
Dennis, 41, has won 19 of his 32 fights and 'Hitman' Heaney will go into the contest also looking for his 19th victory in what will be his 22nd bought.
Kent fighter Dennis has only won twice in 11 fights since losing his shot at the European middleweight title to Danny Dignum nearly three and a half years ago.
But Heaney is expecting the veteran to make the most of his chance to capitalise on his recent setbacks.
"I'm on the back of the losses and he'll see this as a great opportunity for himself," Heaney said.
"This is going to be a very entertaining fight. He's got a very good style and styles make fights as they say.
"I need to be scared and have the adrenaline. I need to think 'oh my, this is it if I don't do this' – I need that. If you don't have that, you don't perform.
"It will be the most incredible atmosphere we've ever seen."
Nathan Heaney was talking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lee Blakeman.
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