Shak-attack for Jaffa

Ilya Shakuro has accused Olympic bronze medallist Tony Jeffries of being a pampered fighter.

The Belarusian (2-1, 1 KO) is preparing for his six-round light-heavyweight battle with 'Jaffa' (2-0, 2 KO) at Sunderland's Seaham Centre on Friday July 10 and insists he possesses the greater desire for victory.

Speaking through his interpreter Shakuro said: "Jeffries doesn't have the same hunger that I have.

"How can he? He did well at the Olympic Games and earned a big money contract from some promoter. I just exist from day to day.

"He is spoilt and when it comes to the late stages of our fight he will not want to know."

Jeffries, 24, has romped to quick fire wins in his first two professional fights and on debut he stopped Shakuro's close friend Aliaksandr Vayavoda.

The Minsk star added: "I haven't seen the Vayavoda fight but he was angry when he came back to our gym.

"He told me that the English referee jumped into far too quickly and that Jeffries' punches were nothing.

"If I win this fight I might get more big fights against so called prospects and finally make some money for myself."

In the Sunderland bill topper Bristol southpaw Lee Haskins (18-2) defends his British super-flyweight title against Sheffield's serving soldier Ross Burkinshaw (6-1-2).

The cream of boxing talent in the north-east will also box on the card including local heavyweights Dave Ferguson and Danny Hughes. Newcastle's fighting brothers John Lewis Dickinson and Travis Dickinson are also in action.