Defeat as 'true great' and 'stellar Stokie' Nathan Heaney bows out

Boxing hero Nathan Heaney admits he's done 'everything I dreamt of as a young lad' as he bowed out of the sport last night. The inspirational 37-year-old laid his red and white boxing gloves in the centre of the ring to the sounds of Tom Jones' Delilah and took a bow after defeat to Gerome Warburton.

And speaking after the contest the Meir warrior hailed the incredible support he's received throughout his career as Heaney's legion of fans stayed put to give him a hero's send off. In the ring and it wasn't the fairy tale ending to an incredible journey as he was defeated on points to Warburton - who was also quick to pay tribute to the popular Stoke City fan.

In an emotional goodbye to the sport, Heaney stepped back, looked at those red and white gloves in the centre of the ring, smiled, and said 'one more time'. With arms stretched out wide he belted out Delilah with the Stokies who have roared him on - every step along the way.

Last night represented a rematch against Warburton at Birmingham's bp pulse LIVE Arena. It was 31-year-old Welsh fighter Warburton who took the win on points.

Footage from DAZN, who showed the fight, showed an emotional moment for Heaney and his fans as he said one last farewell. Speaking after Heaney said it was time to retire.

He said: "I can't even get emotional - it's weird. The fight was very close, I thought to myself, either I have won it by a round or it's a draw it was that close. I'm 37 years old, I had to call it a day no matter what tonight.

"There was a lot of pressure on me as I wanted to win and it's a lot of hard work. I've had a fantastic career, I've headlined a number of times, I have been on the TV for the last six years, it's everything I ever dreamt of as a young lad.

"It's a tough old sport. My head's a bit sore, my jaws' a bit sore - when you have been punched for the last 30 years!

"I was better this fight, I was flat as a pancake the first fight. I used more boxing ability this time. We were both pinching rounds throughout the fight.

"It's a sport I have loved every second of. Even at the end - not many fighters have support like that, I had just lost and there was 2,000 of them there and not a single one of them went."

His opponent was quick to pay tribute. Warburton said: "To be a part of what he brings and what he did bring to British boxing, the ring walk and everything like that - it's amazing to be a part of. We both put on a performance it was a good fight out there, and I have nothing but respect for him."

Heaney has been lauded for his incredible contribution to the sport as he steps away from the ring. A post on the bet365 Facebook page states: "The incredible story of Nathan Heaney. After 100+ amateur fights across a 15-year span, he took a step away from boxing in 2015.

"Since returning as a 28-year-old, he's hand delivered thousands of tickets to his loyal supporters, he's become Stoke-on-Trent's first British middleweight champion and has bowed out with a valiant display against Gerome Warburton. A true great of the sport."

Ahead of the bout and a post on Stoke City's Facebook page branded him a 'stellar Stokie'.

A post on the Frank Warren boxing promoter page, sharing a reel of his last Delilah stated: "A man of the people. Happy retirement to an out-and-out Stoke legend".

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