Happy anniversary Phil Jeffries!
The man, who jointly promotes Saturday’s Christmas Cracker with Steve Wraith in Dunston is celebrating 10 years as a promoter.
Jaffa has been intrinsically linked with Wearside and North-East boxing over the past decade following son Tony’s greets achievements as an amateur and his transformation into a professional.
Phil, the owner of Sunderland Coachworks, is best known for promoting the annual Summer Rumble at his beloved Stadium of Light, plus other shows, while he has worked alongside Frank Maloney and Sky and Dave Garside and Dennis Hobson in some of the biggest promotions in the region.
Jaffa has had champions aplenty, Lewis Ritson is the reigning British lightweight title holder while two of his Sunderland boxers, Thomas Essomba and Glenn Foot, reigned as Commonwealth kings and Kirk Goodings was an English belt holder.
“There have been a lot of great times over the years,” Phil told punch-lines. “Tony winning Olympic bronze was obviously very special.
“When I brought Lewis back from Scotland I said I would get him a shot at the British title and look what he’s done over the last year.
“Glenn has probably been the hardest boxer to manage, but what a fighter, seeing him go to Glasgow and batter their unbeaten lad [Jason Easton] to become Commonwealth champion was probably as good a night I’ve had.
“But the 10 years have been a roller-coaster, I’m a lot greyer than when I started!
“Boxing is a hard game as we’ve found this week. I put Martin Ward and Terry Wilkinson on last week’s show at the Lancastrian Suite because we had 12 fights lined up for our show, now we’re down to four.
“But boxing is an incredible sport and it gets in your blood.
“Linking up with Steve has been a huge help and it’s been good working with him again.
“But, I have to say, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything without Neil Fannan, who has been there all these years. He’s a great man.”
Here are some of the highlights (and an occasional low light) of Jaffa’s 10 years as a promoter.
Favourite fight (s):
Glenn Foot v Jason Cook (Rainton Meadows Arena, 2013)
David Dolan v Jon Lewis Dickinson (Stadium of Light, 2011)
Tommy Ward v Alvaro Rodriguez (Rainton Meadows Arena, 2018)
Phil says: “There are so many, it’s hard to pick just one, or even three!
“Glenn stopping Jason Cook was a great night and I’ve loved putting on the Rumbles and that cruiserweight derby for the Northern Area title is up there.
“Seeing Tommy win the IBF European title was fantastic.”
Biggest show:
“I’ve had some cracking Summer Rumbles, but the biggest in terms of titles was probably the IBF world championship I promoted with Frank Maloney at the Rainton Meadows Arena between Steve Molitor and Jason Booth.”
Hardest fighter:
“I’ve joked that he was the hardest man to manage, but Glenn Foot’s the hardest man full stop, a warrior, he’ll fight anyone!”
Most skilful boxer:
“Tommy Ward, without a shadow of doubt. This boy’s class.”
Most exciting fighter:
“Joe Laws, I can’t wait to see where he’ll go.”
Biggest disappointment:
“Mick Hadfield. That boy looked the real deal, but he only had two fights.”
Biggest regret:
“It would probably be putting a fight on between two of my boxers, Glenn Foot and Kirk Goodings, in Dunston. It should have been on Sunderland or the Rainton Meadows Arena.”
Words: Roy Kelly Main picture: Jennifer Charlton
