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Olympic Bronze Medallist Tony Jeffries was unveiled to the British media today, ahead of his professional debut in Barnsley on Friday.
In a joint press conference with his Irish Olympic counterpart and fellow Maloney Promotions golden boy, Darren Sutherland, it was revealed that like Sutherland, Jeffries will taking on a Belorussian fighter.
Aliaksandr Vayavoda will be the target in question, as Jeffries steps down from light heavyweight as an amateur, to super middleweight for his entry to the pro game.
Jeffires said: “I have prepared well, doing my strength work. I’m the lightest I’ve ever been since I was seventeen years old, so I’m flying in the gym. I’m just raring to go and want to get into the ring.”
Asked if he had a message for Vayavoda, he spoke wryly: “I just hope it’s a good fight and I hope he doesn’t get hurt too much.”
Exciting times
Manager Frank Maloney is certain the next few years will be good for boxing fans: “It’s gonna be an exciting time for British boxing.
“I think we’re coming into a golden era where there are some great fights out there. It may be all the guys in the Olympics plus a couple that have just turned pro such as George Groves or Travis Dickinson.
“It shows that the super middleweights and the light heavyweights could be a very exciting division over the next three or four years.”
Faith
Jeffries has similar faith in Maloney, who has delivered on his promises ever since rescuing him from a deal turned sour with Dennis Hobson.
“When I signed with Dennis Hobson, that fell through. At the time I was gutted but that was a god-send really because I’ve signed with Frank Maloney who’s a hundred times better.
“So far he’s done a lot more for me than any other promoter would have done. I’m really happy with Frank, I’m really happy with the way things turned out.”
Pressure
By debuting at the Barnsley Metrodome, Jeffries will be making his pro debut in the arena where he won his first amateur title when he was just thirteen years old. And by fighting only a few hours drive from his home city of Sunderland, the pressure may be on.
Darren Sutherland went through similar pressure on his professional debut in Dublin. And that pressure was compounded by fighting in his former university, and by being shunted to the top of the bill at the request of executives from Sky Sports.
Darren provided the following advice: “When I fought in Dublin there was a lot of pressure on my shoulders even though I was a supporting fight.
“But it was like being at the top of the bill because all the fans in Ireland had come to see myself. Also boxing without a head guard and a vest, I personally I felt a bit naked going into the ring.”
He continued: “He would have travelled around the world with the amateurs and met a lot of hostile environments, so it will probably be a nice change for him to have the whole crowd behind him.”
Sutherland fights Siarhei Navarka on March 6, making his second appearance as a pro on the undercard of fellow Irishman Jamie Moore’s bid for the vacant EBU title.
