Venue, Date, and Time
Venue: Co-op Live Arena, Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom (a state-of-the-art multi-purpose venue that has quickly become a hub for major Queensberry Promotions boxing cards).
Start Time: Main card begins at 5:00 PM GMT (UK time) / 1:00 PM ET (US). Ring walks for Heaney vs. Warburton are expected around 6:00 PM GMT / 2:00 PM ET (exact timing dependent on undercard length).
Broadcast: Live and exclusive on DAZN worldwide (UK via app/subscription; US plans start at ~$29.99/month standard).
Injury Report
No injuries or withdrawals reported for either fighter. Both are confirmed fit and cleared. The entire card (originally set for January 24, 2026) was postponed due to an injury to main-eventer Moses Itauma; the extra 10-week window reportedly allowed Heaney to reach “phenomenal condition,” while Warburton used the time for additional preparation without issues.
Fighter Matchups and Tale of the Tape
This is a size, experience, and power vs. youth, awkwardness, and pressure domestic middleweight clash:
Nathan Heaney (“Hitman”): 36 years old, 6’1″ (185 cm), 74″ (188 cm) reach, orthodox. Stoke-on-Trent, England fan favorite and former British middleweight champion. Former WBA Continental Europe title challenger; known for high work rate and fan-friendly style.
Gerome Warburton (“Bread Maker”): 30 years old, 5’9″ (175 cm), southpaw. Bodelwyddan, Wales. Former Welsh middleweight champion and recent British/Commonwealth title challenger; durable pressure fighter with a granite chin.
Key Physical Edges: Heaney holds a significant 4-inch height and reach advantage, allowing him to control distance with jabs and straight shots. Warburton’s southpaw stance creates awkward angles that have troubled orthodox fighters in the past; he’ll look to close the gap and turn it into a phone-booth scrap.
Recent Form
Heaney (mixed results but still dangerous; last 5 outings show durability questions):
Jul 2025: W UD 8 vs. Grant Dennis
Feb 2025: NC (TKO 7) vs. Sofiane Khati (later ruled no-contest due to opponent’s doping violation)
Jul 2024: L TKO 12 vs. Brad Pauls (lost British title; dropped early)
Mar 2024: D SD 12 vs. Brad Pauls (title fight)
Nov 2023: W MD 12 vs. Denzel Bentley (won British title)
He has 160+ pro rounds and thrives in longer fights but has shown vulnerability to stoppages and cuts recently.
Warburton (resilient but lower finishing power; last 4):
Aug 2025: W PTS 6 vs. Jordan Grannum
May 2025: L TKO 4 vs. Kieron Conway (British/Commonwealth title challenge)
Jun 2024: D PTS 10 vs. Ryan Kelly
Earlier: Solid domestic wins with draws
Warburton has never been stopped cleanly outside of the Conway loss and excels in grinding, high-volume affairs.
Fight History and Key Insights
Heaney (pro since 2017) peaked with the British title win over Bentley but has stalled since the Pauls fights and the Khati incident. At 36, this is widely viewed as part of his “farewell tour” with a potential dream send-off at Stoke City’s Bet365 Stadium if he wins. Warburton (pro since 2019) is on the rise after Welsh title success and a competitive showing in title challenges; this is a career-high opportunity against a proven domestic name. The winner could re-enter WBA rankings and eye bigger domestic or European shots.
FIGHT ODDS
Nathan Heaney – 170
Gerome Warburton + 140
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Friday, March 27, 2026
