TONY JEFFRIES is to be trained by top American Tommy Brooks. The Olympic bronze medallist, 25, been looking for a new trainer since splitting with Bobby Rimmer in the summer and believes Brooks is the man to make him a world champion. Brooks, 56, is best known for his work with Evander Holyfield who he is still training, but his knowledge of boxing makes him one of boxing’s most sought after trainers. Other big names who have trained under him include includes Yuri Foreman, Junior Jones, Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko, Mike McCallum, Hasim Rahman, Mike Tyson and Pernell Whitaker . Jeffries (7-0-1) will train for fights in Los Angeles and return to his hometown, Sunderland with Brooks to complete preparations ten days before each fight..
The light-heavyweight’s promoter Frank Maloney said: “I have no doubt that Tony has made the right choice.
“Tommy isn’t just a coach, but also a teacher and that is exactly what Tony needs to help him develop.
“I have seen Tommy work with fighters and he is one of the best trainers in the world.”
Maloney has known Brooks for more than 20 years and wanted him to train Lennox Lewis in the nineties.
He added: “When Lennox was looking for a trainer I put Tommy’s name up and he was interviewed, but the feeling among some of the team was that he was too inexperienced at the time.
“There has been criticism aimed at Tony, but people need to remember that two years ago he has never ever been in a professional gym to train.
“He will get a lot of one-to-one coaching with Tommy and will come on for it.
“A lot of other amateurs who turn professional have spent months or even years training in a professional environment.
“I believe in Tony as much as when I first signed him, but this is a long-term project and the negativity from certain sections has to stop.”
Brooks began training in 1982 after a short professional career and married into the famous boxing family, The Duvas.
He said: “I am looking forward to working with Tony and I am sure that given time with each other we will form a good team and I can get the best out of him.
“From our conversations it is clear he is willing to learn and there is plenty to work with.”
Brooks served his training apprenticeship under greats George Benton, Eddie Futch and Archie Moore.
Details of Tony’s first training camp under Brooks and his next fight will be announced next week.
WEBB CHASING EUROPEAN DREAM
SAM WEBB makes his first British light-middleweight title defence next month knowing he could be fighting for the European championship in early 2011.
He first must overcome Martin Concepcion (17-7) at The Troxy, London, E1 on Saturday October 16, risking the crown he took from Anthony Small in March.
Chislehurst’s Webb (16-1) is currently rated number one in the EBU rankings, but hopes to become the official challenger for the title won by Czech Lucas Konecny at the weekend.
Promoter Frank Maloney: “There will be a new mandatory contender when the next EBU rankings are published and I hope Sam gets nominated.
“If he does, then he should be guaranteed an EBU title shot by the middle of next year.
“Apart from those closest to him, nobody gave him a chance against Small, but he caused an upset and won clearly.
“Konecny looked a real handful when he beat Matthew Hall on Saturday, but Sam is a very under-rated performer and a bit of a dark horse.”
Concepcion, 29, is his best ever form and with ten KO wins, Webb will respect the Leicester puncher’s power.
Maloney added: “I have promoted several of Martin’s fights and he is never in a bad contest. The styles of himself and Sam mean a cracking battle.”
The full undercard will be announced later this week, but tickets are available priced £35 and £85 from www.frankmaloney.com and 0871 226 1508
MUNROE DOESN’T GOT TO THE DOGS
RENDALL MUNROE knows he is in tip-top shape for next month’s big world title fight after outpacing a pack of dogs during last week’s warm-weather training camp in Portugal.
The Leicester binman left the mutts for dead during an amazing hill run in the Algarve, which was filmed for Japanese TV.
Munroe (21-1) will challenge for Toshiaki Nishioka’s (36-4-3) WBC super-bantamweight title at Tokyo’s 10,000 capacity Sumo Hall on Sunday October 24.
When Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries did the same run 12 months ago, the dogs forced him off track and he got lost for two hours.
When the pack of barking dogs saw Munroe, he sped up despite 80 degree heat and soon the animals were left to whimper for water.
Promoter Frank Maloney said: “When the dogs saw Tony and his pals he lost his way, but Rendall kept running and running even though they were jumping all over the place.
“It says a lot about Rendall because he completed the four-mile hill course almost a minute quicker than any other fighter I have taken on that run.
“I have never met a fighter so single-minded and he is totally unfazed about what awaits him.
“His laid back attitude reminds me of Lennox Lewis and travelling to the other side of the world will not affect his performance.”
Southpaw Munroe, 30, added: “The running facilities in Portugal were phenomenal. It was good viewing and good roads and the stamina work on the hills was ideal.
“There was a Japanese TV crew following us everywhere and that was highly entertaining, but great fun. They were really nice people.”
For Munroe fans wishing to attend the fight tickets can be purchased from www.frankmaloney.com. Prices for fans wishing to make the trip are £55, £90, £170, £230 and £380 (RINGSIDE).
Dan Woodgate
On October 16th Minster based pro boxer, Dan ‘Woody’ Woodgate will be having his second professional fight at the K2 Leisure Centre, Crawley and is confident of a win. The crowd pleasing cruiserweight has said that he feels he has the power and the skills to knock out his opponent on the night no matter who is put in front of him. “First and foremost im going out to get the win but I know that if there’s an opening I’m going to take it and get the job done early!”
From a young age Woodgate has understood the importance of showmanship in boxing after watching his favourite boxer Chris Eubanks as a child, much to the annoyance of his mother who was a big fan of Nigel Benn!
Woodgate has already built up a huge fan base and is looking forward to winning titles after signing a new management deal with London based promoter, Mickey Helliet. His title winning dreams could become a reality. Helliet said, “I saw Dan’s debut performance and could see so much raw potential in him, he has the skills, the power and the showmanship that will draw the fans. It’s always nice to see that he’s a down to earth guy and has an impressive work ethic which is very important. I’m also pleased that he has teamed up with former British and Commonwealth champion Michael Alldis as his trainer, that will be invaluable to Woody at this early stage of his career.”
.
Tickets for the show are available from Dan Woodgate on 07807 013111