Jeffries to star in Sunderland

TONY JEFFRIES is out to show that absence has made the punches get harder when he returns home to Sunderland on Saturday. Britain's Beijing bronze medallist has his second professional fight when he faces German Roy Meissner in a super-middleweight four rounder on Frank Maloney's the triple title bill at Crowtree Leisure Centre. Jeffries, 24, bases himself in Manchester during the week before returning home at weekends to spend time with his family and fiancée, Sarah Kneeshaw. He said: "It is a bit of a wrench travelling to Manchester every week, but they are the sacrifices you have to make. When training is enjoyable that sort of thing doesn't matter. "I just want to make it so badly that I would do anything to give myself any advantage and fortunately I have got a great family around me to help out. The rest is up to me." Tony who is managed by dad Phil and promoted b Maloney is tipped to become as popular as Ricky Hatton and already proving to be a prolific ticket seller. Maloney added: "It is a long term project, but I see Tony developing into an arena fighter with the ultimate ambition a world title fight at the Stadium of Light. "If he progresses like I believe Tony can match Ricky for popularity around the world. "The man in the street identifies with him and Tony always has the time of day for people. It will be about the right fights at the right time, and that is the job Phil and I have. "Tony has the hardest job of all winning, and I'm sure a German fighter like Meissner won't want to get beaten up by an English fighter so Tony will have to be on top form."Top of the bill is European light-middleweight champion Jamie Moore (31-3) who makes the first defence of his title when he faces Ukraine's former amateur star Roman Dzuman (23-6-1). Mike Tyson conqueror Danny Williams (40-7) risks his British heavyweight title in a rematch against John McDermott (25-4). European super-bantamweight champion Rendall Munroe (18-1) boxes Ghanaian Issac Nettey for the vacant Commonwealth title.