By Neil Bonnar

neil.bonnar@nqnw.co.uk

MARK Heffron is targeting a second shot at the title after bouncing back dominantly from his first ever defeat.

The Oldham middleweight suffered the first setback of his career in December when he lost a British title fight against Liam Williams at Manchester Arena.

He stepped back into the ring for the first time since, in front of his home fans last Saturday night, when he saw off Cameroon opponent Serge Ambomo convincingly on points in a six-round bout.

And, after taking his professional record to 22 wins – 17 by knockout – and one loss, he is plotting a route back up the British ladder.

"After losing to Liam Williams I just wanted to get in there and get the win," he said of the victory over Ambomo.

"The main thing was not to blast him out of there and not learn anything.

"I wanted to get in there and get some rounds in because that is much better for me than blasting him out when you learn nothing.

"The next couple of fights are about learning and getting used to being in the ring.

"Sparring is different to fighting, sparring's all right but you don't get the nerves you get in a fight."

Heffron was pleased with his showing in his hometown victory at Oldham Leisure Centre, where he did not need to unleash the power punching which gives him his nickname Kid Dynamite.

"I literally won the fight with one hand," he said. "I threw one right hand all fight.

"I had to be switched on and bright eyed all the time, which I was.

"There is lots of stuff I need to learn. Those nerves on fight night, when they kick in they drain your energy away so you've got to gets lots of experience of dealing with those situations and learning how to deal with it."

Heffron, aged 27, went further than he ever has in his career in his defeat to Welshman Williams, going 10 rounds of a 12-rounder.

The furthest he has been in his other 22 fights is eight rounds once, seven once and six three times.

With that in mind, he is still a relatively young professional round-wise, which maybe explains why he wants to get more rounds under his belt in future as he targets a second shot at the British title.

He believes his first attempt did not show him at his best as he said he suffered a serious problem in the second round which affected him throughout.

"Liam Williams was a great experience," he said. "But I had an ear perforated in round two.

"I didn't use it as an excuse and I wouldn't do because it happens, but that's what happened and then I went 10 rounds.

"I went to see someone about it and it was like 'how did you go 10 rounds?'

"I've never had Liam Williams down as a big puncher but he was hitting me and I was swerving, which shouldn't happen but did because I had a perforated ear."

Heffron will also be taking a keen interest in the English middleweight title fight between Bolton's Jack Cullen and champion Reece Cartwright from Leeds on May 11 in Bolton, with the Oldham man a potential opponent for the winner.

And he is tipping Cullen to emerge from it successful.

He said: "I have sparred with both of them and they are both good fighters, but I definitely think Jack will win that fight.

"After that if it came up that I would fight Jack I would be up for it. I am not in this sport to avoid anyone so if the fight came up, I would take it.”