Tony Jeffries pays tribute to boxing coach
Dec 23 2008 by Kim Carmichael, The Journal
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A NORTH East sporting hero has been helping to pay tribute to the coach who guided him to the top of his game.
Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries was at Sunderland tourist information centre yesterday signing copies of a new book which provides a unique glimpse of the life of his former mentor Bobby Bute, as well as his own rise to fame.
The Olympian – The Story of a Wearside Boxer and his Coach not only chronicles Jeffries’s career, but also that of the former coach, who lost his long battle to cancer in 2005 and without whom the boxer says he may not have achieved Olympic glory.
“Bobby helped me from the age of 10 and without him I’m not sure that I would have been able to get to where I am today,” said Jeffries.
“He was a fantastic coach and I’m proud to be paying tribute to his memory by being a part of this book.
“A donation from the sales will go to Macmillan Cancer Support because they helped Bobby so much.”
The £12.99 book, which was written by Bobby’s brother Michael, is illustrated with more than 300 pictures and covers Bobby’s life, from boxing in Sunderland in the 1960s to the special relationship forged with Jeffries, who went on to bring home Sunderland’s first Olympic medal.
Michael Bute, who compiled the book in just seven months, said: “My brother left a very organised archive of programmes and pictures.
“The way everything was in order made it seem to me that he wanted a book to be written to document the history of boxing in the area. I feel very proud to be involved.
“The book tells the story of Bobby’s life and what he did for boxing, but also what Tony has achieved for the North East.”
Coun Paul Watson, leader of Sunderland City Council, said: “Tony is recognised as a local hero and an inspiration to people in Sunderland and the North East. We are delighted to have him come along to our tourist information centre to sign copies of the book.”
The Olympian –The Story of a Wearside Boxer and His Coach (Bute Publications) is in the shops now, with signed copies available in Waterstone’s in Sunderland.
