TONY JEFFRIES has been left feeling a twit by Sunderland striker Darren Bent – but he doesn’t mind one bit! Olympic bronze medallist Jeffries had a £1000 charity bet with the England international over who would get the most tweets on social networking site, Twitter. Bent managed to beat the Sunderland super-middleweight who now has to give £1000 to a charity of his choice. Jeffries will give the money to The Tracy Crawford Foundation – a leukaemia charity set-up in Tracy’s memory that has so far raised hundreds of thousands to help patients at Sunderland Royal Hospital and other cancer charities..
‘Jaffa’ said: “Darren got ten times more followers than me, but I expected to lose because he is high profile.
“I am not complaining because the money is going to a fantastis charity and I have got to know Darren well since the bet was struck.
“I speak to Darren all the time and I have bumped into him at a few Sunderland games and he is a top lad.”
Jeffries, 24, will put that rare loss behind him when he bids for his fifth straight win against Latvian Andrejs Tolstihs at Newport Leisure Centre on Friday night (11th Dec).
He added: “I was a bit disappointed win my recent points wins and I want to put on a better performance this time around.
“I am planning to have a three week rest and then get back in action next year and improve even further.
“I had some promotional problems at the start of my career, but I don’t think any promoter in the world could do as good a job as Frank Maloney has done.”
Top of the Newport card the double title fight between Bristol’s British super-flyweight champion Lee Haskins (19-2) and Birmingham’s Commonwealth king Don Broadhurst (11-0).
Also in action are Olympic bronze medallists, 6ft 8in heavyweight David Price (3-0) and mandatory British light-middleweight contender Sam Webb (14-1)
Tickets are available £30 and £70 from 0871 226 1508 and www.frankmaloney.com. Fans of Jeffries can get tickets and coach transport by calling Phil Jeffries on 07747 611020
PRICE’S LATVIAN TEST
OLYMPIC bronze medallist David Price will come up against Dmitirijs Basovs in his fourth professional fight later this week.
Unbeaten heavyweight Price who stands 6ft 8in tall will face the Latvian (3-2) on Frank Maloney’s big bill at Newport Leisure Centre on Friday (Dec 11).
The 18 stone Liverpool man mountain said: “I have been happy with my performances so far as a professional.
“I was taken the distance by Yavor Marinchev in October, but that was the best I have boxed as a professional and I hope to improve on that against Basovs.”
Maloney added: “I am delighted with David’s progress. He’ll stay busy in 2010 and gradually step up in class.
“It is a long road, but I am convinced that he will join John Conteh as the most famous fighter ever to emerge from Liverpool.”
Basovs comes into the Price fight having outpointed Armands Zemitis in October.
Carl Baker has pulled out of his fight with unbeaten heavyweight Tom Dallas on the same bill.
The fight will be scheduled for the New Year, but Dallas (7-0) who has been sparring with Dallas will now face a substitute opponent on the South Wales card.
Top of the Newport card the double title fight between Bristol’s British super-flyweight champion Lee Haskins (19-2) and Birmingham’s Commonwealth king Don Broadhurst (11-0).
Also in action are Olympic bronze medallists, Tony Jeffries (4-0) and mandatory British light-middleweight contender Sam Webb (14-1).
GIVE FANS THEIR MONEY BACK
SAM WEBB has stoked up his feud with British light-middleweight title champion Anthony Small telling him: “Give punters a refund after your latest performance.”
Small retained his title last month outpointing Thomas McDonagh in one of the dullest British title fights in history.
Webb, 28, is the mandatory contender for Small’s title and purse bids will be held on Wednesday (9/12) with Frank Maloney vowing to win for his man.
The pair met twice as amateurs with Webb winning both of their contests on points and there has been ill-feeling ever since.
Webb who will have a warm-up at Newport Leisure Centre on Friday December 11 said: “Small v McDonagh was a disgrace.
“Wigan players gave fans their money when they got spanked by Tottenham. Small and McDonagh refund the poor people who sat through them for 12 rounds.
“When they get their cheques I can’t believe they will have clear consciences when they walk in the bank to cash them.”
The Chislehurst man and Maloney were fuming that McDonagh was allowed to challenge having lose an eliminator to Webb (14-1) in May.
Maloney added: “The last time I can think of a fight so poor was when Johnny Nelson fought Carlos De Leon and that must have been 20 years ago.
“I complained to the British Boxing Board of Control when they sanctioned Small-McDonagh and it should not have been allowed.”
Top of the Newport card the double title fight between Bristol’s British super-flyweight champion Lee Haskins (19-2) and Birmingham’s Commonwealth king Don Broadhurst (11-0).
Also in action are Olympic bronze medallists, 6ft 8in heavyweight David Price (3-0) and super-middleweight Tony Jeffries (4-0).