PROUD promoter Mick Hennessy has backed new British middleweight champion Nick Blackwell to pack a punch on the world stage after the Trowbridge’s man’s emotional title triumph in on Saturday.

Hennessy saluted his fighter’s ‘special’ achievement after watching him stop London’s John Ryder in brutal fashion in the seventh round at the O2 Arena and reckons that ‘Bang Bang’ has the talent to achieve at a global level.

It was Blackwell’s third shot at the domestic crown after previous defeats to Martin Murray and Billy Joe Saunders, with Kent-based promoter Hennessy claiming Blackwell’s triumph was just reward for the sheer hard work put in earlier in his career.

“I’m over the moon, I’m delighted and really, really chuffed for Nick because he’s done things the hard way in this sport,’’ Hennessy told IFL TV after Saturday’s fight.

“He had no amateur experience, came into the game and was thrown into fights he shouldn’t have been in, at the wrong time.

“He’s a true warrior and he’s been learning on the job and that’s a hard thing to do.

“I’m more delighted for Nick because he’s done something special.’’ Blackwell’s previous two attempts came inside the first 15 professional contests of his career and, while believing they were the wrong match-ups at the wrong time for the Trowbridge man, Hennessy believes those career defeats helped set him up for his weekend glory.

“They (other fighters) look at his (Blackwell’s) record and that’s a big mistake,’’ he added.

“He was in the wrong fights at the wrong time – he wasn’t experienced enough but that’s what’s helped make the man (that) he is now.

“He’s got an iron chin, he’s got a will you see in very few fighters and determination and he’s got great skills as well.

“He’s going to go on and be a special talent. My aim is to go on to make him to be a proper world champion – a class world champion.’’

Hennessy lost out in the purse bids to stage the Blackwell-Ryder fight to Matchroom rival Eddie Hearn, meaning the fight was shown on Sky Sports Box Office rather than the terrestrial Channel Five.

But Hennessy added: “I fancied this fight strongly from the off, I really did in a big way. So I went for it.

“We’re going to look for defences of this British title, but obviously we’ll be keeping an eye on getting him in the right ratings and getting him on the world scene because he’s not even a 12-round fighter, he’s a 15-round fighter.

“You never even saw the best of him (at the O2). He’s got an engine and he could have stepped up through the gears and put more of a workrate round after round after round.

“There are not a lot of fighters in the world that are going to be able to cope with that pace. He’s a tough, tough fighter.’’

Among potential future opponents for the Trowbridge man could be domestic rival Chris Eubank Junior, whose only career defeat came to Blackwell’s former foe Saunders for the British, European and Commonwealth titles last November.

“I’d love to make that fight – I really would,’’ added Hennessy. I worked with Chris Eubank Junior and the Nick Blackwell fight was in front of them twice and they didn’t want to go that route.

“I believe in Nick strongly and that’s a great fight. Chris Eubank Junior is improving and he’s become a quality fighter but so is Nick.

“Let’s get one thing right here, Nick’s a great TV fighter. That (Ryder) fight was a thriller while it lasted and there’s more of that to come.

“You’re only going to get great entertainment from Nick Blackwell and if Chris Eubank Junior wants to give the fans great entertainment, look no further than Nick Blackwell.’’

Blackwell’s next ring outing may come on a Hennessy bill in July, although the promoter added: “I want to take a look at Nick after this fight and see if we can get him on that bill. Obviously we’ve got to look at things, sit down and talk and check out the cut and if there are any other niggling injuries.’’