Francesca Hennessy is here to make an impact. At 19 years old, fresh from her win at Selhurst Park and gearing up for her next fight in October, she is a talented boxer at the beginning of a career that is destined for greatness.
Hailing from a boxing family, Hennessy was born for the sport, not just because of her proximity to it but because of her insatiable desire to entertain and inspire. With her infectious smile and signature ring walk dancing she exudes an effortlessly positive energy that belies a wisdom far exceeding her years.
Hennessy’s big dreams exist both within and beyond boxing and her attitude suggests success is an inevitability. Driven, dynamic and down to earth – this is a role model in the making. From a young girl who lacked belief to a surefooted fighter whose star is rising exponentially, she cuts a unique figure in the compelling world of professional boxing.
In this interview Sean McKoy explores Francesca Hennessy’s story; from her introduction to the sport, to her idols, her goals and what makes her boxing’s next best thing.
Top: The Kript
Gloves: RDX
You’ve been immersed in boxing from a quite a young age. How did you get your start?
My Dad was a promoter and he’s now a manager and my brother’s a professional boxer so to be honest, I think it’s just in the blood. I was always in and around the boxing scene with them but at first my Mum and Dad didn’t really want me to do it. But I kept following my brother and Dad around, I kept begging to go to gyms and shows and I think I just fell in love with the sport.
What is it that you love about it?
I just can’t live without that push in me. I need to push every day for something better or push myself to the next limit. I don’t think I could live without the feeling of boxing, even the nerves before a fight. I need some sort of feeling like that otherwise I get bored. I need the adrenaline to go to the next level, doing something I don’t want to do, but having to do it. That’s something I can’t live without. That’s what I fell in love with.
What are your short term and long term goals in boxing?
Short term I’d like to pick up some sort of title very soon. I’m not sure what but whatever title presents itself – I’d love to just have a nice little strap. Long term my dream is to be a multi undisputed world champion; I want all the belts. I want to be the youngest one there’s been – the youngest currently is 23 and I’m only 19 years of age, so I’ve got a while to do that. We’re going to do it at the right pace, but I believe I can be the youngest, 100%.
If there was a fighter whose style or career you would most want to emulate, who would that be?
I’d say either Sugar Ray Leonard or Prince Naseem Hamed, both were entertainers and had great careers as well. I love watching their styles – I like people who entertain from start to finish; they obviously do it for themselves but are also giving back to the supporters who are coming to watch them by putting on a show and backing it up with what they do.
Is that something that you carry into the ring? Have you got in your mind that you want to entertain?
The first thing is getting the job done, but yeah of course. The thing with me doing those ring walks, dancing out there, that confidence comes from the work I put in in the gym. That doesn’t come from me just wanting to be cocky, it’s just me. After all the work I put in, when I get out there, I’m excited. I’m excited to get in the ring. I want everyone involved. Let’s go, you know! And that’s just the way I’m inclined. In the gym, if there’s music playing, you’ll see me dancing in the corner when I’m training.
Suit: Saint Genies
Bra top: Candypants
Jewellery: Sif Jakobs
Shoes: Meenu Graziani
What would you say your biggest success and biggest challenge has been so far?
My biggest success has been my debut. In that fight I don’t think a lot of people were expecting what I was going to bring and how I was going to bring it. I think that really introduced me into the scene of boxing, you know, from the ring walk to the performance people were like, ‘who is this girl?’ So, I was happy to show a lot of people that I’m not just in this because my Dad is a manager. I do this for myself, and I really do push hard. And I think on my debut, I proved that.
One of my biggest challenges so far has been when I’m going through things at home, like when I lost my Nan, and having to put on a smile to the media and act a certain way that you don’t necessarily feel inside. A week before my last fight I was at my nan’s funeral, in bits, and then the week after I’m fighting in an arena. So, I think having to put that front on in the media and in front of people has probably been one of the hardest things so far. But that just comes with the sport and to be honest when I go through those times boxing gets me through them.
Do you feel like you have a point to prove when you step out there?
Yeah, but to be honest, I’m in this for me – the person I want to make proud is myself. And obviously my family as well. The main thing is proving to myself that I can do what I want to do. But I also love showing other people because I do get some comments, but they don’t affect me. I don’t care. But I think I have shown people that I do this for me, I do it because I love boxing. I’m not one of these people that has just had it handed to them and doesn’t put the work in – I work really hard. So yeah, I do want to prove to people, but the main thing is proving it to myself.
Jumpsuit: I Saw It First
Bra top: Candypants
Shoes: Meenu Graziani
Shoes on floor: L-R- Azelia Wang, Nike, Meenu Graziani
You’re obviously very close to your family, how important are they to you?
My family is so important to me. I’m very blessed to have the family I have. I know a lot of people don’t have a good family unit around them, so I really do cherish the fact that I’ve got that. I’ve got a Mum and Dad that care for me, who would do anything for me, and I’ve got two siblings that are like my best friends. We’re a team and that plays a massive part in my career, the fact that they are behind me. Anything I need, they help me with anything . And that’s why I’d love to smash it in this game because I’d love to eventually give back to my family and be able to do nice things for them.
Women’s boxing is going from strength to strength. How does it feel to be a part of that?
Oh, it’s unreal. I know Savannah Marshall very well now for example, but I remember when I was 12 years old, I was in the gym and Savannah had just turned pro. I looked up to her so much and it’s mad to see where we both are now. It’s crazy to see her just after her debut to where she is now, undisputed and headlining shows. All those big names in women’s boxing have paved the way for all of us younger girls. It’s been amazing. And I’m so blessed to have come in at this time because I know it was probably a lot harder for them to get out there like that.
I think there’s still some unresolved problems in women’s boxing, but it’s got way better, and we see our skills coming through and we have an amazing platform to show what we can do now. So, yeah, obviously there’s still going to be challenges, but the aim is just to keep getting it better and better, especially with the people my age coming through.
Top: Weekday
Trousers: Topshop
Necklace: 8 Other Reasons
Gloves: Everlast
You’re at the start of your journey so you’ve got a lot of time to shape your career, but how would you like to be remembered at the end of it?
I’d like to be remembered as someone you haven’t seen before, someone unique. I’d like people to see me as being different to what they point other people out for; for the way I am and for how I perform. I’d like young girls to look up to me for not just how I am in the ring, but also how I am outside it. Obviously, I want to be remembered for being an unreal world champion, but I’d like to also be remembered for more than that as well.
If you weren’t a boxer, what do you think you would be?
You’re going to be a bit shocked by my answer, but I think I’d be a chef. I love my food. I’d be a chef because when I was younger, I used to always cook food for my family. Maybe I’ve lost it a little bit now, but I did love cooking when I was younger.
Who would be your three dream dinner guests?
Sugar Ray Leonard, Ryan Gosling because The Notebook is my favourite film and then Beyonce because she’s just an icon. I like cooking a prawn linguine but not everyone’s good with prawns so maybe I’d do a roast dinner and we’d all sit around the table on a Sunday, I’d love it.
Would you say that fashion is an interest of yours?
Oh, I love fashion. I think people can see at press events, I get done up, I like to make the most of the occasion. Whether it’s classy or swaggy, I go through all different phases. I do love my fashion; I really enjoy styling things and putting outfits together. It’s another part of me now.
How would you describe your personality inside and outside the ring?
So, inside the ring it’s like a switch flips. I don’t know if people can tell this or not, but I can go into deep water in the ring. I just love to fight, I really do. And that’s my personality in the ring. If someone hits me with a hard shot, I’m coming back at them with three more.
But outside of the ring, I’m quite a calm person. I just like doing chill things, going to Nando’s with my friends, going to the cinema. I’m quite laid back. Don’t get me wrong sometimes I have the odd off day where I’m a bit stressed but I’m just a laid back person – the scenes I like are chill scenes.
Coat: All Saints
Shorts: Basic Pleasure Mode
Sunglasses: Le Specs
Boots: Jaded London
Top: The Kript
Have you got any ambitions outside of boxing?
My main thing is inspiring the next generation. Not just boxers coming up, I want to make kids believe in themselves and give them that hope and passion that anyone can do anything in life. For me, when I was younger, I was a girl who was very overweight. I had no confidence – I didn’t believe in myself at all. If you showed my younger self that I was here now, I really, really wouldn’t have believed you. So, yeah, I’d love to do a lot with schools; with young kids who don’t know where they’re going, to show them that you can do it.
Maybe in the future someone will be in the position you’re in now saying ‘Fran Hennessy was a massive influence on me.’
That’s what I hope for, that would be so nice to hear, young girls or young boys saying stuff like that. When it’s all said and done, that’s what it’s all about, influencing the next generation – what you’ve influenced them with and how. I’d love for someone else to look up to me like that.
Francesca will be fighting on Saturday 19th October at the Copper Box Arena in London
Follow Francesca on Instagram @_franhennessyy
Top: Weekday
Necklace: 8 Other Reasons
Team credits:
Photographer: Jacquetta Clark @jacquettaclark
Photography Assistant: Oliver Lawson @oliverxlawson
Photography Assistant: Alex Jose @alexjosephoto
Fashion Stylist/Editor: Charmaine Mckoy @charmainemckoystyle
Interviewer/Deputy Editor: Sean McKoy @sean.amck
Fashion Assistant: Caelia Brady @caeliaab
HMUA: Louise Lerego @louiselerego
Videographer: Lucas Fisher Horas @riveraineproductions
Cover design: Sofia De Vita @sofiaxdevita
