| Jeff Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Jeff Charles Thomas |
| Rated at | Featherweight |
| Nationality | British |
| Born | 30 October 1981 Dordrecht, Holland |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 16 |
| Wins | 9 |
| Wins by 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 fought at light welterweight and was a challenger for the Irish light welterweight title and the British Masters super featherweight and light welterweight titles.[1]
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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, England where 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.. It is also noted that Jeff Thomas has the same tattoo as Miguel Cotto. Both have tribal artwork on the right side of their bodies. It is unclear who had their tattoo done first.
At amateur level, Thomas won a North West England novice title and reached the quarterfinals of the senior Amateur Boxing Association of England 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 six stoppages.[1][2]
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.[1]
Thomas was undefeated in his first seven fights including controversial decision wins over Midland Area Champion Peter Buckley and Central Area Champion Daniel Thorpe plus a fortunate 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 future 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.[1]
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 8 lb, 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.[1]
Over the following three years Thomas' interest in the sport waned. Thomas, trying to score an upset, took bouts on short notice against Ricky Burns and Steve Murray, troubling both before losing each fight conclusively. However, he also gained another controversial points victory, over former British Title Challenger, British Masters and Midlands Area Champion Anthony Hanna,and then went on to beat Wales' Anthony Christopher.[1]
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 in only his second professional fight.[2]
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 their scheduled contest in Blackpool. Unfortunately for Thomas he embarrassingly lost on points to Carey and lost his chance to fight Khan. Again some felt that Thomas had been unfortunate, though not Thomas himself.[1][2]
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 lose a split decision to unbeaten Former IBF World Lightweight Champion Paul Spadafora and had already gone the distance with Julio Cesar Chavez Junior before being stopped by British prospect Amir Khan in 2008.
Thomas decided to return to the ring in January 2008 but soon after joining Bobby Rimmers Boxing Academy in Stalybridge, Manchester he suffered a torn muscle in his chest. He is now assistant trainer to Kevin Maree.[1][3][4][5]