Tony Jones' targets set high with Maloney
Telford's Tony Jones has been told by his trainer he's capable of boxing for a British title under the stewardship of Kellie Maloney.
Ex-pro Brian Robb will be in the corner of the 23-year-old from Brookside, when he debuts under the Maloney banner tonight,
Jones, who will start out at welterweight, undertakes four rounds with Scottish-born veteran Matt Seawright at the Bellahouston Leisure Centre in Glasgow.
Robb is leaving the amateur code to take the Shropshire hopeful into the paid ring and will step down as head coach of Telford & Wrekin at the end of the season.
And the 48-year-old is confident 'the Maloney factor' will get Jones the right opportunities, with his next fight scheduled in London on July 3.
Robb said: "I have trained Tony since he was eight-years-old, so I don't think there's anyone better to take him into the pro game.
"He's got his debut and will box next when Kellie promotes her next show, which are told will be at York Hall, a great experience.
"If he lives the life and does exactly as he's told, I don't see any reason why he can't fight for a British title, if we all do our jobs properly.
"But we've all got to want it - myself, Kellie and Tony - and look after each other. I have known Kellie for years, so there's trust between us.
"She may have turned into from a man into a woman, but she hasn't had a brain change - she knows boxing and that will help Tony."
A hardy band of around 30 supporters from Shropshire will head north of the border to support Jones, a second cousin of multiple world welterweight title challenger Colin.
Old club-mate Nathan McFarlane, from Madeley, has been a useful sparring partner at their temporary training base on Hills Lane.
Robb said: "Tony's trained hard for this and his left hook could take Seawright out, it's what his family are renowned for, but we want the rounds.
"The sparring with Nathan has been geared up for it. Seawright will bob and weave with his hands low and his chin out, inviting Tony in.
"He'll try to tie him up and spoil, so he needs to start off working the jab. He's been dropped before, so let's see if he can take Tony's power."
Robb engaged in 32 professional bouts from 1989 to 1998 and had a lopsided 10 (2)-20 (17)-2 record, all stemming from his debut.
He ended up losing to Miguel Matthews in the second round after bloodshed in Wolverhampton, which would prove a common theme.
That danger has been drummed into Jones, with Robb saying: "He needs to be wary of getting caught, he must have his wits about him.
"I turned over at 21 and was winning my debut hands down before I got caught with a head-butt, the fight got stopped on cuts and I had to have nine stitches.
"I had problems from then on, wounds would open up and I would end up having to retire or with the referee pulling me out. It cost me a lot."
Robb is respected in the amateurs as a match-maker, a skill that will have to go on the back-burner as he feels his way back into the pro world.
He said: "I've really enjoyed match-making and would love to do it in the pros one day, but it's a different game. It's not my focus right now.
"I've always been about learning fights, so tough tests. I don't know how well that would be taken in the pros, although everyone needs a step up.
"I wanted to give something back and I have done that in the amateurs since I hung up my gloves, so now I want to put 100 per cent into Tony.
"I am carrying on with the club until the end of the season. Stuart Green, Glenn Payton and David Harris will then take over the coaching.
"I will always be at the end of a telephone, particularly with those I have worked with since they were Tony's age. It will be hard to walk away."
