British rising boxing star Fran Hennessy is overwhelmed for 'love and support' from fans

Dubai: Rising British boxing talent Fran Hennessy says self-belief is what drives her — and without it, she wouldn’t be in the sport.

Now 20 and unbeaten in her first six professional bouts, Hennessy has her sights set firmly on a future world title. But she knows success doesn’t come overnight. A recently shared video highlighting her journey — from struggling to skip as a child to powering through intense adult workouts — has struck a chord online, racking up over a million views.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Hennessy admitted she was taken aback by the response. “I was overwhelmed with the love and support it got. I never imagined it would be that big, and I’m just blessed to have received so much encouragement.”

She revealed it took some convincing to share the clip. “My dad had been telling me for about two months to post it, but I was nervous. The insecure little girl in me was thinking, ‘I don’t want people to see me overweight, stomping when I’m skipping.’ But I’m so glad I did. Parents and kids have messaged me saying how much it’s inspired them.”

One young fan even approached her in person to show how many skips she’d learned after seeing the video. “I was just amazed. It means the world to know I’ve had that kind of impact,” Hennessy added.

Her influence has gone beyond the ring. She’s been invited to speak at the Houses of Parliament about how boxing can positively shape young lives — something she relates to deeply.

“Boxing changed everything for me. I wouldn’t be where I am now without it. I struggled with dyslexia and had trouble focusing in school. Now I’m heading to Parliament to talk about helping young people — that means everything.”

Hennessy also acknowledged the support she had growing up. “I had a great upbringing and incredible parents. Not every child has that, and it’s important we put support systems in place to help them believe in themselves — whether it’s in sport or anything else.”

In March, she delivered another commanding performance at the iconic Royal Albert Hall, securing a dominant 80–72 points victory over Gemma Ruegg across eight rounds — further cementing her status as one of British boxing’s brightest prospects.