Jeffries has a 100% record from his first two bouts

Sunderland boxer Tony Jeffries is expecting a difficult fight when he takes on Belarussian light-heavyweight Ilya Shakuro on Friday.

Jeffries, 23, has easily won in his first two professional fights but has sensed a greater intensity from his opponent this time around.

"By the way he's going on he seems really up for it and wants to have a go," he told BBC Newcastle.

"I put my hand out to shake his and he wasn't interested, he's out to win."

Quotes attributed to Shakuro in the run-up to the fight have described Jeffries as a "pampered" fighter, following his Olympic success in the 2008 games in Beijing.

But the Sunderland supporter, nicknamed 'Jaffa' believes the success he has had so far has only served to inspire him and make him more determined to continue his impressive record.

"I've not been pampered, I've been looked after better because of my Olympic success but I've trained as hard as anyone, I'm still as hungry as anyone else," he said.

Top of the card is Lee Haskins' British super-flyweight title fight against Ross Burkinshaw.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version