Tony Jeffries Interview

[Spud]

Just done a few bits with Tony Jeffries - in the interview he reveals he is going to be trained by Joe Gallacher for his first fight:

Hello Tony, now things have died down a tadge whats it feel like to be called a "professional" boxer?

Great!!! - it was always an ambition of mine to be a professional boxer and to do the very best I can for myself - its great having a job you enjoy doing - not a lot of people can say that.

What are your "realistic" ambitions in the sport - what I mean by that is that every boxer who turns professional says he is going to be a world champion!!!

Yeah obviously that would be nice, naturally I want to be a world champion, but, I am not going to be one of those boxers who shouts about doing this and that. I achieved a lot as an amateur which will stand me well for the professional ranks, but its completely different being a professional boxer, so, I am not setting myself timeframes, when I am ready my promoter Dennis and my trainer will tell me, then arrange for those fights to happen. I think its wrong for a boxer to say he is going to do this and that, and set timeframes, unexpected things happen, I am going to do things the correct way and listen to the right people.

A lot of people discuss on the various boxing websites about whether a boxer has the right style to go into the professional ranks - what are your thoughts on this?

I obviously think I am going to do well as a professional boxer, but I also know I will have some adjustments to make, anyone who thinks otherwise is not thinking straight - how well I do making them adjustments - will be a good sign on how quickly I can climb the ratings - but I will keep telling everyone all in good time - overall my style will work well in the professional ranks.

You mentioned about a trainer - have you decided who thats going to be?

Joe Gallacher will be my trainer for my first fight and Kerry Kayes will take care of my nutrition and the weights side of things - I am really looking forward to working with the both of them. I did not make the decision lightly, I had a few sessions with different trainers but expecially liked the way Joe works, that is no offence to anyone else - a long term decision has not been fully taken yet - but I am hoping everything goes well with Joe and Kerry.

How is that going to work when you live in Sunderland, where as Joe and Kerry live in Manchester?

I will travel down to Manchester live there for 4 to 5 days a week then travel up north to be with my family.

Things have gone absolutely nuts for you in the North East since the Olympics and things are even better since you announced your signing as a professional boxer, does that put pressure on you and with your fans being so enthusiastic about you, will they put pressure on you to bring a world title back to Sunderland?

I can deal with the pressure okay - I have had to deal with it as an amateur, trying to make the GB Team for various events culminating in the Olympics - theres pressure there just to get into the team and it goes up a lot of notches the nearer you get to a medal and I think I handled things really well. I acknolwedge the professional ranks will bring a different kind of pressure but all I am saying is that my amateur career has stood me well for the future.

With regards to my fans - I think they will help me massively rather than put pressure on me - they will want to see me fight and as long as I keep winning they will go home happy, as I have already mentioned its up to my promoter and trainer to put me in the right fights and they will do that when I am ready so there will be no pressure there.

Good luck Tony for your first fight which I believe will happen by the end of Feb!!!

Thank you!!!

[TerribleTerry]

Good luck to Jeffries, I hope he has a good run as a professional. FA should put his fights on in the North East and look to build on the following that the Olympic success will have given him.

One question though Spud: Where is the accompanying rant from you where you slag off Gallagher, calling him all the names under the sun (maybe even a **** or two??..)

Its not like you to let your current allegiances colour or distort your previous views

[Chambers2]

Good Luck TeeJay
He seems to have his head screwed on. I've heard that Tony is understandably very popular in the North East, so if FA can translate that popularity into 'bums on seats' it'll be a great signing for them.

[beagleboy]

Cracking interview

















If it was done by a 13 year old girl

[Spud]

Good luck to Jeffries, I hope he has a good run as a professional. FA should put his fights on in the North East and look to build on the following that the Olympic success will have given him.

One question though Spud: Where is the accompanying rant from you where you slag off Gallagher, calling him all the names under the sun (maybe even a **** or two??..)

Its not like you to let your current allegiances colour or distort your previous views

I am not going to bullsh*t you Terry - now that would be wrong wouldn't it!!! ;;-)

I had a telephone conversation with Joe yesterday (sunday) where he aired his points and I had my say!!!

Terry whilst we are here and you indeed bring up a good point and its one Joe himself brought up in the course of our conversation - Frank Maloney recently stated in an interview either in Boxing News or Monthly that sometimes you don't have nice things to say about people and then the next you are having dinner with them - that sort of thing happens time and time again in boxing - people within the sport will tell you exactly that - if people stuck to their principles no business would get done and there would be no fights at all.

Whilst we are on this thread I genuinally wish "Jaffa" all the very best - Boxing is a cruel sport if you do not do things correctly and live the life in the manner you should - I had a long talk with Jaffa last Wednesday and again on Sunday and he really seems to have his head screwed firmly on his shoulders - the only point I can slag him off for is his choice of football team - he is a Sunderland fan and I am a Newcastle fan and he has dared me to wear a Newcastle shirt on his debut - being a stupid twat I have stated I will - he is going to lose some money - and I may lose some teeth!!!

[ogsie]

Jeffries has picked a really good team to work with in Gallagher and Kayes who also work with Joe Murray and British Lightweight Champion John. All the British olympians who turned pro have found trainers apart from James degale

[fatton]

Good luck to Jeffries, I hope he has a good run as a professional. FA should put his fights on in the North East and look to build on the following that the Olympic success will have given him.

One question though Spud: Where is the accompanying rant from you where you slag off Gallagher, calling him all the names under the sun (maybe even a **** or two??..)

Its not like you to let your current allegiances colour or distort your previous views

I am not going to bullsh*t you Terry - now that would be wrong wouldn't it!!! ;;-)

I had a telephone conversation with Joe yesterday (sunday) where he aired his points and I had my say!!!

Terry whilst we are here and you indeed bring up a good point and its one Joe himself brought up in the course of our conversation - Frank Maloney recently stated in an interview either in Boxing News or Monthly that sometimes you don't have nice things to say about people and then the next you are having dinner with them - that sort of thing happens time and time again in boxing - people within the sport will tell you exactly that - if people stuck to their principles no business would get done and there would be no fights at all.

Whilst we are on this thread I genuinally wish "Jaffa" all the very best - Boxing is a cruel sport if you do not do things correctly and live the life in the manner you should - I had a long talk with Jaffa last Wednesday and again on Sunday and he really seems to have his head screwed firmly on his shoulders - the only point I can slag him off for is his choice of football team - he is a Sunderland fan and I am a Newcastle fan and he has dared me to wear a Newcastle shirt on his debut - being a stupid twat I have stated I will - he is going to lose some money - and I may lose some teeth!!!

But ur not actually part of boxing, ur just a run-a-round arse sniff.

Hey it's Christmas, even the village idiot deserves some slack.