By Shawn Holt:

Age: 26
Weight Class: Super Middleweight-Light Heavyweight
Record: 8-0-1 (6)
Fighting out of: Sunderland, England

Shawn Holt: For those who are unfamiliar with you at what age did you start boxing?

Tony Jeffries: I started boxing when I was 10, and had my first fight when I was 11. I’m now 26.

SH: Are there any other boxers in your family or are you the first?

TJ: Yeah my Uncle Billy Bryce had over 100 amateur fights, and about 12 pro fights.

SH: What does it mean to you to be a boxer from the UK, which has produced great fighters such as Ricky Hatton, and Joe Calzaghe?

TJ: It’s great! I’m proud of being from the UK! Hatton and Joe did great, and hopfully the UK can get a few more world champs.

SH: All of your pro fights so far have been in the United Kingdom. I’ve recently learned your training in Los Angeles. Are you enjoying your time in the US?

TJ: Yeah training in the USA is great! I’m getting some top sparring, and I love training in the hot weather. Alot better weather than the North East of England where I’m from.

SH: Any fights scheduled in the near future?

TJ: My next fight is on the 3rd of September at Doncaster. Will be against former British Champion Tony Quigley from Liverpool. It will be my toughest pro fight so far, but my training is going brilliant and I’m very confident!

SH: What fighter do you like watching today?

TJ: I like watching Pacman, but to be honest I’m not a big boxing fan, unless it’s a big fight, or my friends are fighting I won’t watch it.

SH: What fighters did you grow up watching?

TJ: Prince Nazeem Hamed was great to watch in his day. He was so entertaining, and also Roy Jones Jr in his day was my all time favorite!

SH: What was your proudest moment in your amateur or pro career so far?

TJ: My proudest moment was winning my Olympic medal. I trained for years to get it and to finally get on the podium was amazing. Also my first pro fight in my home town of Sunderland. The support I got sent shivers up my spine! I sold 1000 tickets in a couple of hours.

SH: In 5 years, where do you see yourself in boxing?

TJ: World champion!

SH: In the Light Heavyweight division there are names like Chad Dawson, Tavoris Cloud, Jean Pascal, and Bernard Hopkins. Given the opportunity, who would you fight first? I’m in between weights at the minute. I want to do Super Middleweight and win titles there, and then move up to Light Heavyweight. I would pick Hopkins out of the names above.

SH: What boxer, of the past or present, do you think your style resembles the most?

TJ: Thats a tough one. Maybe an Orthodox version of Winky Wright.

SH: What is your greatest skill in the ring?

TJ: My power and speed.

SH: What are the pros & cons of being a boxer?

TJ: The pros are winning. There is no greater feeling than getting your arm raised after a fight. The worst part is probably the dieting.

SH: If you weren’t boxing, what would you be doing?

TJ: I would be making alot of money buying and selling cars and property.

SH: Who is your trainer, and what’s it like working with him?

TJ: My trainer is Tommy Brookes. It’s great working with him, because he’s worked with 23 world champions. The likes of Pernell Whitaker, Mike tyson, and Evander Holyfield. He really knows his stuff and knows how to figure your opponent out.

SH: When your training for a fight, what does your daily routine consist of?

TJ: Bags, pads, sparring, skipping rope, circuits, and all varieties of running.

SH: How many miles do you run a day?

TJ: It depends. I’ve got different phases in my camp where I run different. From hill sprints to steps and to long runs. I work with Joe Dunbar. He’s my conditioning coach who used to work with Lennox Lewis. So he’s very experienced and he does my training program for every run and circuit I do.

SH: What is your favorite gym workout?

TJ: I love doing pad work.

SH: What advice would you give to someone who wants to be a boxer?

TJ: Everyone in boxing gyms are good people. It’s not what you might think with bullies. It’s quite the opposite.

Shawn Holt is a writer for Boxingasylum.com. You can contact him on Twitter (ShawnotheAsylum) and on Facebook (Shawn Holt)