Jeff Thomas walks the walk

[bennie]

Our own Jeff Thomas returns to the ring in Colne on March 4 for his first fight in five long years.
The 29-year-old Thomas, from scenic St Annes near Blackpool, was desperately close to a showdown with Amir Khan in early 2006 but a surprise points defeat to the rugged Baz Carey in Blackpool in December 2005, whom Khan had just outpointed, cost him the opportunity and an estimated payday of £5,000. Thomas admitted he was "not in a good place" and fought just twice more, including a surprise loss to Dublin's Oisin Fagan in Dublin, before walking away in the summer of 2006.
A pro since 2001, Jeff went unbeaten in his first seven fights before stepping up against the talented Lee McAllister in 2003 in McAllister's own hometown of Aberdeen. He fought his heart out but dropped an 'iffy' 10-round decision (97-95), despite finishing much the stronger. Incredibly, Jeff had scaled lightweight that night, for a light-welterweight bruiser, and he dropped down for another 10-rounder just three months later in Bradford against local hard man Martin Hardcastle, dropping another close verdict.
This was in December 2003, and Jeff has boxed only seven times since, duking it out with the gifted Ricky Burns and the huge-punching Steve Murray, among others, but the Khan blow and the priority of a young son, Joe Louis Thomas, kept him on the sidlelines.
Now the classy, durable Thomas is back, probably at light-welterweight. Good luck, Jeff, you will do well.

[Bleak]

he looked sharp in them early days looking at the you tube footage!

Best of luck with it

[johnnygreaves]

Good luck pal. Hope you get what you want from the game

[curtis wood]

welcome back to the circus jeff

[jBacca]

Best of luck, Jeff.

[Tommy Gunn13]

All the best Jeff

[Wake up call]

Best of luck mate.

[whiskey]

Well written Bennie.

Good luck Jeff.

[hurlock]

i like it :!: a man who has unfinished buisness is dangerous D

come on jt you can dooweet.

[alexpaterson]

Good luck Jeff!

[housesecond]

Only just realised in reading that but I was in Martin Hardcastles corner that night in Bradford. Cracking fight between 2 great guys who refused too lose. I have good memories of it.
Good luck Jeff.

[Jeff Thomas]

Wow thanks so much, means a lot that chaps. Didn't know anyone had put anything on here- thanks a lot Bennie and all others.

House second- I have the Hardcastle fight on video! We should have got a mention for fight of the year in boxing news that year I think. It was wild.

Thanks thought i'd do it quietly but you've ruined that now

[Tommy Gunn13]

Wow thanks so much, means a lot that chaps. Didn't know anyone had put anything on here- thanks a lot Bennie and all others.

House second- I have the Hardcastle fight on video! We should have got a mention for fight of the year in boxing news that year I think. It was wild.

Thanks thought i'd do it quietly but you've ruined that now

I heard Stevie Murray is coming back aswell.....Nah only kidding!!
Joking aside what are your aims&who you training under? Best of luck&i wish u well

[Jeff Thomas]

Wow thanks so much, means a lot that chaps. Didn't know anyone had put anything on here- thanks a lot Bennie and all others.

House second- I have the Hardcastle fight on video! We should have got a mention for fight of the year in boxing news that year I think. It was wild.

Thanks thought i'd do it quietly but you've ruined that now

I heard Stevie Murray is coming back aswell.....Nah only kidding!!
Joking aside what are your aims&who you training under? Best of luck&i wish u well

Aim is the 1 fight- a win

Then 4 more wins

Then the central area title at light welter or welter

Then British

Then european

Then world

Then a unification with pacman

followed by a move up to heavy to fight Wlad.

Nah just the top three for now!!!

[pyenest77]

Colne just down the road from me so I will be be there.

Good luck Jeff.

[Tommy Gunn13]

Wow thanks so much, means a lot that chaps. Didn't know anyone had put anything on here- thanks a lot Bennie and all others.

House second- I have the Hardcastle fight on video! We should have got a mention for fight of the year in boxing news that year I think. It was wild.

Thanks thought i'd do it quietly but you've ruined that now

I heard Stevie Murray is coming back aswell.....Nah only kidding!!
Joking aside what are your aims&who you training under? Best of luck&i wish u well

Aim is the 1 fight- a win

Then 4 more wins

Then the central area title at light welter or welter

Then British

Then european

Then world

Then a unification with pacman

followed by a move up to heavy to fight Wlad.

Nah just the top three for now!!!

Top man

[palooka]

Best of luck with it Jeff; hope you enjoy your second career.

Joe Louis Thomas; no need to ask who your boxing hero is eh? (Lot better than Tyson Thomas)

[curtis wood]

where are u training jeff? do you fancy a bit of sparring? always good to see something new

[JC]

The very best of luck Jeff.

[dondada]

Gooooooooo on, Jeff!

[black panther]

Nice one Jeff, all the best mate!

[tear up]

once rteired stay retired ends in tears a lot of times people come back thinkin they still have if they had it why walk away i know did it myself
a few time s there r better jobs out there than been a boxer should live the memory and pass it on if can but unless you been traing all week
every week sparred people and gifted its hard but good luck jeff hope it goes well and you with people who wanna look after ya not treat ya as a punch bag for 500 or 600 a night the hunter

[Jeff Thomas]

thanks for the support lads- went to the board today and they approved my reinstatement. So i'm back march 4th.... Lets see if I can be an exception to the rule re comebacks.

[bennie]

Jeff, you are 29 and had 16 pro fights, which says it all. If a fighter is shot when he retires, he will always be shot. If a fighter still had it when he walked away (like you), he can come back and regain his very best form. Take a few fights to regain your ring fitness and timing (George Foreman had 19 comeback fights before he silenced the doubters by crushing Cooney), then go and make some consistent dosh.

[dondada]

Jeff, you are 29 and had 16 pro fights, which says it all. If a fighter is shot when he retires, he will always be shot. If a fighter still had it when he walked away (like you), he can come back and regain his very best form. Take a few fights to regain your ring fitness and timing (George Foreman had 19 comeback fights before he silenced the doubters by crushing Cooney), then go and make some consistent dosh.

bennie's right, as usual.