Mark Jeffers: "I know my level, and what I am capable of, and I think anyone in the super-middleweight division will have a nightmare when they get in there with me."
By Matt Elliott
In the world of sports, several vital ingredients will determine the level of success that you can ultimately achieve. Some of those are within your direct control, such as the amount of hard work you put in and the sacrifices you are prepared to make along the way, and others are what you inherit, such as your genetic makeup and the physical capabilities that arise as a result. If you are fortunate enough to have an element of natural ability and overlay this with unrelenting dedication, then you have the potential to achieve huge things. However, you still need one more factor to go your way, and that is opportunity.
Boxing is a sport where opportunity plays a huge role in a fighter's career. The thought that talent in isolation will get you to the top is a myth, at least to some extent. In the last twelve months, the direction of boxing has undoubtedly started to change as the financial backing of Saudi Arabia has forced promoters to work together and with that take more risks and be less protective of their fighter's unbeaten records. That is a positive and is resulting in better fights. Still, at the moment it is those already at the top that are benefitting most and for those further down the food chain, where fighters are juggling training with a full-time job, it's about trying to remain patient, staying active, and grabbing that opportunity with both hands if and when it comes.
A perfect example of a fighter who grabbed an opportunity and used it to change the direction of his career is Mark Jeffers. Having turned professional in 2016, Jeffers was 14-0 when he defeated Michael Garcia in November 2021 to take the WBO Global super-middleweight title. Unfortunately, Jeffers suffered a shoulder injury during the fight and, following surgery, missed the whole of 2022. After completing his rehabilitation and with a baby on the way, Jeffers was considering his future in the sport before an opportunity came to fight Zak Chelli at short notice. The rest, they say, is history.
I caught up with Jeffers via Zoom recently from his temporary base in Canada where he was helping Erik Bazinyan prepare for his fight with Jaime Munguia which takes place later this month and he opened up about the fact that he was considering walking away from boxing before that Chelli fight presented itself.
"At that point in time, with us expecting a baby and with nothing on the horizon fight-wise, I was in the mindset that if something didn't come my way soon, I was going to knock it on the head. Boxing was costing me money and I needed to be earning, so I was willing to walk away, but then one evening my coach Mick Jennings called and said I'd been offered the Chelli fight on a couple of weeks' notice. I just said take it, without knowing how much money was involved or anything, I just needed to grab it. Otherwise, my boxing career, as far as I was concerned, was done."
The fight with Chelli was for the English title and featured on Sky Sports, being part of the Boxxer show at the AO Arena in Manchester headlined by the clash between Savannah Marshall and Franchon Crews Dezurn. Jeffers put in a solid performance to win the contest and with it the title, by unanimous decision. Looking back, though, he admits that the opportunity to raise his profile was the thing that meant the most to him.
"Titles are nice, but to me, it was more about getting my name out there and performing and winning on a big stage where people can see what I am capable of and what I can achieve in this sport. Nobody knew me for my first fifteen fights and that wasn't for the lack of trying, I wanted that English title opportunity two years previous, but I couldn't get the shot, and on this occasion, it all finally fell in line."
After defeating Chelli, Jeffers made a successful defence against Germaine Brown before a stunning knockout of Darren Johnstone in May. In the post-fight interview, he called out current European champion Kevin Sadjo, a fight he has been targeting for some time. They were originally in line to meet out in Marseille at the end of 2023, another fight Jeffers accepted at short notice, only for Sadjo to decline the contest and instead face Argentina's Abraham Gabriel Buonarrihgo, who had four previous defeats on his record and was stopped early in the fight. Jeffers admits that despite the previous rejection, talks continue, and he hopes the fight can happen.
"My manager, Kev Maree, has been speaking with Sky, and they are trying to make the fight, but I'm not sure where they are currently at with it. His last fight was against another Argentinian lad (Durval Elias Palacio) who had a record of 12-2, so I'm not sure what he's planning to do with that belt. Hopefully, the fight can be made but if not then I've got to put him in a position where he has to vacate and then I can box for it, because he hasn't been in with anyone competitive since he fought Jack Cullen back in 2021."
If the Sadjo fight cannot be agreed upon, another potential option is a domestic clash with the new British and Commonwealth champion Callum Simpson. Jeffers was ringside at Oakwell last month as Simpson beat Zak Chelli and admits he would have no problem taking that fight next but that it's more likely to happen down the road with Kev Maree, the manager of both fighters, seeing this as a huge clash that needs to take place under the right circumstances.
"I spoke with Kev on the Monday and said to him that's the fight I want next, but he explained why he didn't think it should be and talked me through the financial side of it. To be fair, what he was saying made sense, but I know I can beat him. Callum's a nice lad, but he makes far too many mistakes, and I'd make him pay for them. Kev said to hold it back though and to try and win the European title first, perhaps defend that and then get it on with Callum at Barnsley in a huge sell-out fight that will not only be massive financially, but it'll also really push me on in my career. You saw from the support Callum had how many tickets he can sell, and I'd do massive numbers as well. They can sell it as Yorkshire against Lancashire, and it'll be a mega event."
What the above demonstrates is that Jeffers now has options, and that is a position he has not always been in. The call to go out to Canada to help Erik Bazinyan is also evidence that his stock is on the rise. How has Jeffers found the experience?
"It's been great, I've just finished the second week, and I will spend three weeks here in total. Artur Beterbiev has just arrived as he prepares for the Bivol fight, and Mbilli is here as well, so there are so many talented, world-level fighters around. I've never been to Canada before, but I have sparred abroad, as I helped Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan prepare for his fight with Munguia and now I'm here helping Erik prepare for the same opponent, so that's a bit mad, but it's been a fantastic experience so far."
Jeffers is a boxer full of confidence, and that shines through when he speaks. Over the months ahead the super-middleweight division, which has been dominated by Canelo Alvarez for so long, will start to see new names emerge, and as the belts begin to fracture, there will be further opportunities for those ready to take them. How far does Jeffers believe he can ultimately go in the sport?
"My target is to win a world title, one hundred per cent. Even just coming over here and sparring at this level it's helping me to improve, and people also get the chance to see how good I am. I know my level and what I am capable of, and I think anyone in the super-middleweight division will have a nightmare when they get in there with me. When I fought Chelli, like I said on the night, I don't think that was a good performance by me, it was just about getting the win and then putting myself on the bigger stages to win titles and ultimately make more money for my family. Those opportunities can come when you least expect them, like the Chelli fight, and that's why I keep myself so fit so that I can seize them if they do."
With two victories already under his belt in 2024, and with other fights being discussed, what would Jeffers see as the perfect ending to the year, and what are his ambitions as he looks ahead to 2025?
"I've been ready for a fight since July or August, so I need one before the end of the year. Preferably, that would be for the European title as that would be massive for me, but if not, I want another high-level fight. Ideally, I get the European, defend it, and then face Callum in front of a sold-out crowd at Oakwell. Win that, and I should be firmly established inside the top ten."
No comments:
Post a Comment