ishy
04-10-2009, 06:23 AM
From BBN:
BBN can exclusively reveal that Sunderland's Olympic bronze medallist Tony ‘Jaffa' Jeffries has split with trainer Joe Gallagher.
Tony has elected to stay in Manchester, joining up with Bobby Rimmer, who recently took Michael Gomez into fights against Amir Khan and Carl Johanneson.
Gallagher oversaw Jeffries' one-round professional debut bombardment of Aliksander Vayavoda. Things seemed rosy in the garden on that night, with Jeffries excelling in the 2:42-second blitzkrieg of the man from Belarus.
A difference of opinion on the training side of things in recent weeks has led to an amicable parting of the ways between trainer and fighter.
Speaking on the phone, Gallagher told BBN that Jeffries wanted more one-on-one time in the gym, but a busy schedule of British title fights – John Murray in January and Matthew Macklin in March – meant that Gallagher had to focus on his British title holders, as well as getting Joe Murray ready for his professional debut, also in March.
Gallagher was understandably disappointed, but felt proud of the work he did in preparing Jeffries for that successful debut, telling BBN that he did everything he could to tweak Jeffries' amateur style into a professional one.
Gallagher also told BBN that he had cancelled a family holiday to prepare Jeffries for the fight, and that he had been fully committed to the Jeffries project. Gallagher told me that he was particularly proud of the fact that people said Jeffries had looked a real professional in his first contest, and also pointed out that he and Kerry Kayes brought the boxer down in weight for that first contest (Jeffries was a touch outside the super-middleweight division on the night, he boxed as a light-heavyweight in the Games), with the opposite usually being the case when fighters turn over from the amateur ranks. However, a conversation between Jeffries and Gallagher earlier this week led to the decision to part company, with both men wishing the other every success in the future. Kerry Kayes will still offer Jeffries advice.
Gallagher believed that sharing a gym with John Murray and Matthew Macklin would benefit Jeffries in the long-run, with success breeding more success; Jeffries, though, felt that he needed more one-on-one time.
Jeffries spoke exclusively to BBN, telling me that: “Joe Gallagher is a great trainer but he has a lot of fighters at the gym, including a thriving amateur section. I felt I could get the one-on-one time I needed with Bobby.
“I am still on good terms with Joe and have massive respect for him as a coach. Frank (Maloney) recommended Bobby to me, and I have been impressed with what I've seen so far.
“It is not a great time to make a switch as I am fighting in my hometown in three weeks, but I needed to make the decision. I will work with Bobby for this fight, and see how things go from there.
“I am loving it so far, the gym is great and I've been doing lots of work with Bobby. The homecoming fight sold out straight away, and it is a big thing for me. I will be at my best for that fight and will then make a decision over the training side of things.
“I want to wish Joe and all the lads at the gym the best of luck for the future. I will be looking out for them in future, and it has all been done on the best of terms, there is no bad feeling between any of us. I rate Joe very highly as a trainer.”
Jeffries fights in Sunderland on May the second; his contest will be part of the Sky PPV build-up to Ricky Hatton versus Manny Pacquiao. This was initially seen as a problem by Gallagher, who takes Joe Murray into his second professional contest on the undercard of Ricky's Vegas showcase; a decision was made to split the team, with Kerry Kayes working the Jeffries corner up in Sunderland, while Gallagher and Murray would base themselves in Vegas for Murray's contest.
Circumstance has stepped in, though, with Jeffries stepping out of the gym, the boxer deciding that he needs to make this tough choice early in his career.
BBN will speak to both men in full later this week.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]
BBN can exclusively reveal that Sunderland's Olympic bronze medallist Tony ‘Jaffa' Jeffries has split with trainer Joe Gallagher.
Tony has elected to stay in Manchester, joining up with Bobby Rimmer, who recently took Michael Gomez into fights against Amir Khan and Carl Johanneson.
Gallagher oversaw Jeffries' one-round professional debut bombardment of Aliksander Vayavoda. Things seemed rosy in the garden on that night, with Jeffries excelling in the 2:42-second blitzkrieg of the man from Belarus.
A difference of opinion on the training side of things in recent weeks has led to an amicable parting of the ways between trainer and fighter.
Speaking on the phone, Gallagher told BBN that Jeffries wanted more one-on-one time in the gym, but a busy schedule of British title fights – John Murray in January and Matthew Macklin in March – meant that Gallagher had to focus on his British title holders, as well as getting Joe Murray ready for his professional debut, also in March.
Gallagher was understandably disappointed, but felt proud of the work he did in preparing Jeffries for that successful debut, telling BBN that he did everything he could to tweak Jeffries' amateur style into a professional one.
Gallagher also told BBN that he had cancelled a family holiday to prepare Jeffries for the fight, and that he had been fully committed to the Jeffries project. Gallagher told me that he was particularly proud of the fact that people said Jeffries had looked a real professional in his first contest, and also pointed out that he and Kerry Kayes brought the boxer down in weight for that first contest (Jeffries was a touch outside the super-middleweight division on the night, he boxed as a light-heavyweight in the Games), with the opposite usually being the case when fighters turn over from the amateur ranks. However, a conversation between Jeffries and Gallagher earlier this week led to the decision to part company, with both men wishing the other every success in the future. Kerry Kayes will still offer Jeffries advice.
Gallagher believed that sharing a gym with John Murray and Matthew Macklin would benefit Jeffries in the long-run, with success breeding more success; Jeffries, though, felt that he needed more one-on-one time.
Jeffries spoke exclusively to BBN, telling me that: “Joe Gallagher is a great trainer but he has a lot of fighters at the gym, including a thriving amateur section. I felt I could get the one-on-one time I needed with Bobby.
“I am still on good terms with Joe and have massive respect for him as a coach. Frank (Maloney) recommended Bobby to me, and I have been impressed with what I've seen so far.
“It is not a great time to make a switch as I am fighting in my hometown in three weeks, but I needed to make the decision. I will work with Bobby for this fight, and see how things go from there.
“I am loving it so far, the gym is great and I've been doing lots of work with Bobby. The homecoming fight sold out straight away, and it is a big thing for me. I will be at my best for that fight and will then make a decision over the training side of things.
“I want to wish Joe and all the lads at the gym the best of luck for the future. I will be looking out for them in future, and it has all been done on the best of terms, there is no bad feeling between any of us. I rate Joe very highly as a trainer.”
Jeffries fights in Sunderland on May the second; his contest will be part of the Sky PPV build-up to Ricky Hatton versus Manny Pacquiao. This was initially seen as a problem by Gallagher, who takes Joe Murray into his second professional contest on the undercard of Ricky's Vegas showcase; a decision was made to split the team, with Kerry Kayes working the Jeffries corner up in Sunderland, while Gallagher and Murray would base themselves in Vegas for Murray's contest.
Circumstance has stepped in, though, with Jeffries stepping out of the gym, the boxer deciding that he needs to make this tough choice early in his career.
BBN will speak to both men in full later this week.
[Only registered and activated users can see links]