Jeff Thomas

Infobox_Boxer

---

name=Jeff Thomas
realname=Jeff Charles Thomas
nickname=
weight=Featherweight
nationality= flagicon|GBR British
birth_date=Birth date and age|1981|10|30|df=y
birth_place=Dordrecht, Holland
home=St. Anne's, Lancashire, England
style=Orthodox
total=16
wins=9
KO=1
losses=6
draws=1
no contests=0|

Jeff Thomas (born 30 October, 1981 in Dordrecht, Holland) is a British professional boxer from Lytham St. Anne's in Lancashire.

Thomas fights at light welterweight and was a challenger for the Irish light welterweight title and the British Masters super featherweight and light welterweight titles.cite web | author=Boxrec | title="Jeff Thomas" | work=Boxrec Fighter Page | url=http://www.boxrec.com/list_bouts.php?human_id=80872&cat=boxer| accessdate=26 January | accessyear=2008]

Background

Thomas was born in Dordrecht, Holland but was raised in Feltham, London where he attended St Laurences RC Primary, Feltham and St Edmunds RC Primary, Whitton. He moved from London aged 12 to St Annes-on-Sea near Blackpool in Lancashire, Englandwhere he attended Our Lady Star of the Sea Primary, St Annes and St Bedes RC High School, Lytham. After leaving school Thomas worked as a Travel Agent before moving into professional boxing and subsidising his wage working as a Door Supervisor in Blackpool. Thomas now manages Portal Security Services Ltd. His main sponsors are "Quilligans Cafe" who are located in Blackpool and the Dalmeny Hotel in St Annes. .

Amateur career

At amateur level, Thomas won a North west novice title and reached the quarter final's of the senior ABA championship's in 2001 where we was beaten by eventual finalist Steven Mathews. He also lost a close majority decision to double ABA champion and future WBU World Champion Steve Foster jnr and scored a good first round stoppage win over James Lee. Thomas finished his amateur career with a 19-4 senior record with 6 stoppages.

Professional career

Debut

Thomas turned professional in December 2001 in Blackpool. On his debut he defeated Birkenhead's Peter Allen on points over six rounds (59/55). Allen would go on to beat Central Area Champion Eddie Nevins and draw with Commonwealth Super Bantamweight Champion Isaac Ward.

British Masters title fights

Thomas was undefeated in his first seven fights including wins over Midland Area Champion Peter Buckley and Central Area Champion Daniel Thorpe plus a draw with the then highly rated Carl Allen (whom had Ko'd British Champion Dazzo Williams and drawn with future British Champion Lee Meager in recent fights). Then, in September 2003, Thomas fought against Scot Lee McAllister for the British Masters light welterweight title in the Scot's hometown, Aberdeen. McAllister, the Scottish Champion and furure WBU Double World Champion won the title by close decision on points over ten rounds by a margin 95-97. Thomas was devastated by the verdict having floored the Scot twice and largely dominated most of the contest.

Three months later in Thomas next fight he faced Yorkshire's Martin Hardcastle again on his opponent home turf in Bradford, Yorkshire. This time Thomas had shed 8lb, as the fight was for the British Masters super featherweight title, but again Thomas having floored his opponent lost on points over ten rounds (96/95). Thomas felt with some justification he had been the victor in both contests.

Hardcastle and McAllister then faced each other in their next next. McAllister came out the eventual victor, after which Hardcastle retired from boxing. McAllister went from strength to strength, winning WBU 'World' Titles at lightweight and Light Welterweight.

Missed Amir Khan fight

Over the following three years Thomas' interest in the sport waned, Thomas trying to score an upset, took short notice fights against Ricky Burns and Steve Murray troubling both before losing each contest. But also gaining victories over former British Title Challenger, British Masters and Midlands Area Champion, Anthony Hanna and Wales' Anthony Christopher.

This lead Thomas to get a chance to fight for the biggest pay day of his career, against Olympic silver medalist Amir Khan. Thomas was approached to fight Khan in December 2005 on the undercard of the Williams v. Harrison but he had contracted to fight Baz Carey, whom Khan had beaten three months previous to that.cite web | author= | title="Thomas books a date with Amir Khan" | work=Blackpool Gazette| url=http://www.blackpoolgazette.co.uk/sports-news/Thomas-books-a-date-with.1268273.jp| accessdate=13 January | accessyear=2008]

An alternate date in the beginning of 2006 was suggested for the pair to fight but it was imperative that Thomas defeat Baz Carey during there scheduled contest in Blackpool. Unfortunately for Thomas he lost on points to Carey and lost his chance to fight Khan. Again some felt that Thomas had been unfortunate, though not Thomas himself.

Irish light welterweight title

Following a win over Nuneaton Veteran Kristean Laight, Thomas got the opportunity to fight for the vacant Irish light welterweight title in June 2006. The Irish title had been vacated by unbeaten Dubliner Robbie Murray to allow Oisin Fagan and Peter McDonagh to fight for the title. However, McDonagh pulled out of the fight which allowed Thomas the chance to step in and fight for the vacant title at the National Stadium, Dublin.

Fagan won the Irish title in front of his friends and family after he stopped Thomas in the seventh round.Fagan would go on to prove his class losing a split decision to unbeaten Former IBF World Lightweight Champion Paul Spadafora.

Thomas decided to return to the ring in January, 2008 but after joining Bobby Rimmers Boxing Academy in Stalybridge, Manchester was unfortunate enough to suffer a torn muscle in his chest. Thomas still intends to fight again.cite web | author= | title="Tapia helping Martinez get ready for Dunne" | work=Eastside Boxing | url=http://www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php?p=7054&more=1 | accessdate=13 January | accessyear=2008] cite web | author=Tomás Rohan | title="Fagan could meet Thomas in June" | work=RTE | url=http://www.rte.ie/sport/2006/0524/fagano.html | accessdate=13 January | accessyear=2008] cite web | author=Tomás Rohan | title="Familiar Names on National Stadium Undercard" | work=Irish boxing.com | url=http://www.irish-boxing.com/october05/14_October_2005_Undercard.htm | accessdate=13 January | accessyear=2008]

References

External links

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