A brief Profile on:
Mark Hennessy
WKN European Champion

Age: 23
Class: Middleweight
Record: 10F 7W, 1L, 2D, 2Ko's
Residence: Belfast

Titles
WKN British And European



LAW student Mark Hennessy is planning to graduate in the ring this year and push for his dream of competing in Thailand as a Thai-fighter.
The 23-year-old switched from full contact kickboxing to low-kick style Thai-boxing in 2005 and has proved an instant hit.
Despite suffering one defeat to Marcel Tratnik in Cyprus in November 2005, Hennessy gained revenge on the same opponent at the Ulster Hall in December to take his career tally to 6-1-1.
While committed to his studies and the aim of graduating from Jordanstown this year, the north-Belfast man wants to gain recognition with title success in the ring.
“Ending 2005 with a win over a guy who had beaten me just a month beforehand was great,” he said.
“Winning at the Ulster Hall made Christmas in 2005 even better and in 2006 I aimed to go a step further and succeeded.”
On December 2006 Mark Hennessy travelled with a Prokick team to Turin Italy where he defended Ulsters honour for European glory by stopping the European super middleweight Stefano Deregibus in the third round. Hennessy started slow in the opening round taking some heavy punches and was two rounds down on a scheduled four rounder but out of nowhere he turned midway through the third by flooring local hero Deregibus to stay on the canvas for a count of ten.
"I'm over the moon." said the North Belfast law student. "I'm known as a slow starter and I was informed by my corner that I was two rounds down going into the third and not to forget where I was and what I was there for. Suddenly all the combinations and the hard work paid off as everything seemed to click into place and the champion was flat on his back and I was declared the new champion of Europe.
Hennessy is steadily moving toward becoming a Muay-Thai fighter, testing the water in limited versions of the art first.
“When I first started full-contact kickboxing I felt that because of my height and style that I would be better suited to Thai fighting,” he added.
“My coach, Billy Murray, has taken me in the right direction. I am learning different aspects of the art before making a complete switch. Very few westerners are known for Thai-boxing success and I would love to change that.
“It’s a long way off but my dream would be to compete in Thailand for a title. That’s would be the ultimate achievement because the Thais are best around. I realise that in order to get that far my work in the gym would have to multiply ten-fold. I worked very hard to beat Deregibus in Italy but I expect the demands will become even greater soon.”

A picture Special of Mark Hennessy in Turin, Italy

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