WITH just the right amount of polish, Mick Hennessy expects his ‘diamond in the rough’ Nick Blackwell to shine at the highest level.

Hennessy signed the Trowbridge middleweight star just under 12 months ago and in that time, the 24-year-old has boxed in Monaco, fought live on pay-per-view and terrestrial television, and clinched the coveted British middleweight title at the third attempt.

The promoter handed Blackwell a berth at the top of his Channel Five bill last Saturday and his faith was rewarded as ‘Bang Bang’ stopped Leeds’ Jones in spectacular style to hold on to his British crown.

Now it is up to Hennessy who believe if he makes the ‘right moves at the right times’ Blackwell will be on the box plenty more in the future.

“Nick’s a diamond in the rough,” Hennessy told the Wiltshire Times.

“He had no amateur experience and he’s doing all his learning on the job, which is hard, to say the least.

“I believe that I can take him through and make him a major world middleweight champion, I really do.

“I’ve got to be cute about it though; right moves at the right time.

“I’m chuffed for him because he’s had everything the hard way. Nothing’s come easy for him.

“I’ve started looking after him this last year and things have got easier for him but before that, he was thrown in at short notice against top fighters, with no experience, and he gave a great account of himself.”