Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas impressed crowds when he put up a good fight in a charity boxing match last night (Thursday 27 September).
The event had 12 fights – all exhibition matches – in east London.
Sam “The Tank” Thomas fought an amateur boxer of similar weight and build over three two-minute rounds.
“I absolutely loved it,” said Sam. “Before I was very anxious – it’s like having your first ride as an amateur when you don’t know what to expect. But once I got out there I just focused on the job in hand.
“Like being in a tight battle in a race, you always need to keep the pressure on and keep the advantage. Bizarrely, you don’t feel yourself being hit and it doesn’t hurt at the time as the adrenalin is flowing. It’s just today I ache a bit!”
The event raised around £50,000, mostly going to the official match charity Barnados. Sam also raised money for the Injured Jockeys Fund from his fight.
The fight will be shown on The Morning Line tomorrow (Saturday 29 September) on Channel 4 at 7.55am
Sam can still be sponsored at http://www.justgiving.com/samthomas59
