Jones’ time to shine?
By Robert Przybylo
BPrzybylo@opubco.com
A lot of local boxers are always looking for that one shot. That one opportunity to try to prove to critics (and themselves) what they’re really made of.
It’s not often an opportunity comes around like that, but one Oklahoma City boxer has a golden chance tonight.
At 22, Carson Jones is not old by any stretch. But he’s not wet behind the ears, either. Jones started his pro career two months after turning 18.
He wasn’t brought up like most local products. He was thrown into the fire early and often and his record has taken a hit because of it.
But don’t let his 20-7-1 record fool ya, he has some skills. He has a great opportunity to put it all together tonight in Tulsa vs. Michi Munoz for the WBC Continental Americas championship in the junior middleweight division.
It seems the light bulb is gone on for Jones, who is starting to realize if he ever wants to become more than just a local name, the competition was going to have to be stepped up.
And become more active.
Jones fought six times in 2008, but his activity rate in 2009 has left little to be desired. Not much more he can do.
Tonight will be Jones’ fifth fight and his second real test.
He lost against Jesus Soto-Karass in February. Jones was dropped twice before rallying in the middle rounds. JSK closed the show in style down the stretch.
That loss instilled more confidence in Jones among boxing writers (including myself) than any of his previous wins.
Since, Jones has won twice, and Munoz should provide a real test at the Charity Fight Night event.
Munoz is 21-2, and the two were supposed to meet last September at the Cox Convention Center.
Munoz pulled out the week of the fight because of an injury but is ready to go. It’s also a huge opportunity for Munoz, so it should make for a very intriguing fight.
Boxrec.com (a fight lover’s dream) has Jones ranked 27th in the US and 102nd in the world in the junior middleweight division.
I don’t have too many complaints about that. And if Jones does, this is his chance to show why he deserves to be a name that’s considered for future big fights.
This will be the first scheduled 12-round fight in Jones’ career. That’s another animal that I’m interested to see how he deals with.
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Following a disappointing outing at the Bellator Mixed Martial Arts event last month, Norman’s Wayne Cole attempts to bounce back Saturday night.
Cole will defend his C3 Fights light heavyweight title against Rick Roufus at the First Council Casino in Newkirk.
Tickets are available at the First Council Casino, at ticketstorm.com and at zooamp.com.
The following week, C3 Fights will be back in Lawton for a boxing event at the Comanche Nation Casino, featuring Lawton boxers George “Comanche Boy” Tahdooahnippah and Grady Brewer.
For more information, call catBOX Entertainment at (405) 408-3599 or the Comanche Nation Casino at (580) 354-2000.
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Hendricks confirmed for UFC 101
It’s been speculated for over a month, but the Ultimate Fighting Championship confirmed that former Oklahoma State wrestler Johny Hendricks will fight Amir Sadollah at UFC 101 on Aug. 8 in Philadelphia.
Sadollah has not fought since winning “The Ultimate Fighter 7” finale last June.
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And finally, word out of MMA circles is that Nick Diaz and Roy Jones Jr. may meet in an MMA-rules bout.
Oy.
RJJ has wanted so bad to get Anderson Silva in the ring/cage, but UFC president Dana White wasn’t having any of it.
So Strikeforce is more than willing to try to get some publicity with this. Let’s just say it won’t end kindly for Jones if it actually does happen.
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