I know there are a few of your lads from the north east has Jones got anything to trouble Anderson in a couple of weeks. Ashamed to say only seen the odd clip of him and nothing else.
Always thought Anderson had a bit of a bad press and think he is a good British champion, nothing on Jones record leads me to believe he can beat Kevin but I know how records can be deceiving.
By all accounts he was getting worked over against Sinclair before pulling it out which shows his guts but not sure how accurate that report is either.
What do you know lads?
Jones chances against Anderson
Don't give Francis Jones any chance I'm afraid.... A decent run of form of late makes this fight sanctionable - but I aint convinced Jones is any better than the guy who lost wide decisions to Matthew Hatton and Ali Nuumbembe. Dickson gave Anderson one or two minor problems, so he is just about deserving of a voluntary title shot, although I don't think he is the best Welterweight with the surname Jones... let alone the best in Britain.
Think Anderson DESERVES an easier night, he's been a good fighting champion... cannot complain with Mutley, Nuumbembe and Magee as his recent fights.
Anderson should come home comfortably, probably on points.
Think Anderson DESERVES an easier night, he's been a good fighting champion... cannot complain with Mutley, Nuumbembe and Magee as his recent fights.
Anderson should come home comfortably, probably on points.
Out of interest, how many times have you seen Francis box, Stu - live or not? He hasn't had much exposure.
Think I've seen 14 of his 23 bouts.
In saying that, your assessment is generally accurate.
Francis is very gutsy, durable and has fast hands. I don't rule him out completely but have always liked Anderson.
Think I've seen 14 of his 23 bouts.
In saying that, your assessment is generally accurate.
Francis is very gutsy, durable and has fast hands. I don't rule him out completely but have always liked Anderson.
Aint seen him once live in person, but I think its about 6 times on tape. Not 100% sure, but I've seen two of his off TV fights (video camera jobby)and I think Sky have covered about 4 of his fights.Ian 'Mr' McNeilly wrote:Out of interest, how many times have you seen Francis box, Stu - live or not? He hasn't had much exposure.
Think I've seen 14 of his 23 bouts.
In saying that, your assessment is generally accurate.
Francis is very gutsy, durable and has fast hands. I don't rule him out completely but have always liked Anderson.
Given my location, most of my calls are based on one or two viewings.. indeed sometimes just on a quick view. I said Lennox Lewis was a world champion in the near future just on one pro viewing (and I didn't know about his amateur record either).
Braveheart Kevin Anderson makes the second defence of his British welterweight title on native soil in Kirkcaldy against Darlington's "Fearless" Francis Jones.
Matchroom promotes.
The big-hitting Scot won the title with a come from behind stoppage of dangerous Midlander Young Muttley in Birmingham last year (10 rounds) and retained on a unanimous decision over Belfast veteran Eamonn Magee in Motherwell in May, dropping the iron-jawed Magee in doing so. He's benefitted from a recent switch to Bob Shannon's Fighting Fit Gym in Manchester, after a surprise loss to Namibian stylist Ali Nuumbembe (who Shannon also trains) back in February, a split decision which cost Anderson his Commonwealth welterweight crown and unbeaten record. But Anderson, still only 24, showed better boxing against the ever-dangerous Magee.
Nuumbembe, incidentally, has also beaten Jones (pts 6 in 2005).
Anderson turned pro in 2003 and stopped nine of his first 14 opponents before stepping up in a crack at the Commonwealth title held by Joshua Okine in September 2005. The Ghanaian had made a big impression three months earlier when he dismantled the previously unbeaten David Barnes in 12 rounds in front of 20,000 on the Hatton-Tszyu bill, but Anderson marched into him, stayed strong and landed enough to nick a split decision. He busted up fellow Scot Craig Dickson in seven rounds in his first defence, also in Kirkcaldy.
Dickson was unbeaten going in.
Anderson then climbed off the floor to outlast Muttley to add the British welterweight title to his collection on a riot-stricken night at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre, but his defence was porous and the clever Nuumbembe capatalised with that split decision earlier this year in Kirkcaldy for the Commonwealth belt, Anderson's only defeat in 20.
So the unheralded Jones will fancy his chances. He's on a winning run of five since a first-round defeat at the hands of southpaw Midlander Stuart Elwell last year - his last four by stoppage. Indeed, Franny comes off a career-best knockout of former British champion Neil Sinclair in five rounds in Dublin in June in a real thriller, and a real upset. "Sinclair is a big puncher and accurate - I felt like a zombie for a couple of days afterwards," said 26-year-old Jones, who was floored in the third. "But I kept telling myself I was the best and I wanted it more. I've got desire and determination and I will get that British title, I really will."
The challenger is in fine form and also came from behind to stop respective opponent Dickson in Clydebank last December. He stopped another Scot, Jamie Coyle, in two rounds before that. He's won nine of his last 10. In 23 outings altogether, he's lost only to Nuumbembe, Elwell and the much-improved Matthew Hatton, whom he previously held to a draw, although Hatton stopped him.
Trained by ex-pro, Michael Marsden, Jones is a 'big' welterweight, having dropped down from light-middleweight, strong, fit, quick and busy. And he looks to be adding power to his work, though may be a bit flattered by the Sinclair win, given Neil has a recent history of folding. And the Elwell result is stark. Jones certainly doesn't look as good as Anderson's last challenger Magee, the only man to floor Ricky Hatton.
The champion, on home soil, simply has more tools than him.
Matchroom promotes.
The big-hitting Scot won the title with a come from behind stoppage of dangerous Midlander Young Muttley in Birmingham last year (10 rounds) and retained on a unanimous decision over Belfast veteran Eamonn Magee in Motherwell in May, dropping the iron-jawed Magee in doing so. He's benefitted from a recent switch to Bob Shannon's Fighting Fit Gym in Manchester, after a surprise loss to Namibian stylist Ali Nuumbembe (who Shannon also trains) back in February, a split decision which cost Anderson his Commonwealth welterweight crown and unbeaten record. But Anderson, still only 24, showed better boxing against the ever-dangerous Magee.
Nuumbembe, incidentally, has also beaten Jones (pts 6 in 2005).
Anderson turned pro in 2003 and stopped nine of his first 14 opponents before stepping up in a crack at the Commonwealth title held by Joshua Okine in September 2005. The Ghanaian had made a big impression three months earlier when he dismantled the previously unbeaten David Barnes in 12 rounds in front of 20,000 on the Hatton-Tszyu bill, but Anderson marched into him, stayed strong and landed enough to nick a split decision. He busted up fellow Scot Craig Dickson in seven rounds in his first defence, also in Kirkcaldy.
Dickson was unbeaten going in.
Anderson then climbed off the floor to outlast Muttley to add the British welterweight title to his collection on a riot-stricken night at the Aston Villa Leisure Centre, but his defence was porous and the clever Nuumbembe capatalised with that split decision earlier this year in Kirkcaldy for the Commonwealth belt, Anderson's only defeat in 20.
So the unheralded Jones will fancy his chances. He's on a winning run of five since a first-round defeat at the hands of southpaw Midlander Stuart Elwell last year - his last four by stoppage. Indeed, Franny comes off a career-best knockout of former British champion Neil Sinclair in five rounds in Dublin in June in a real thriller, and a real upset. "Sinclair is a big puncher and accurate - I felt like a zombie for a couple of days afterwards," said 26-year-old Jones, who was floored in the third. "But I kept telling myself I was the best and I wanted it more. I've got desire and determination and I will get that British title, I really will."
The challenger is in fine form and also came from behind to stop respective opponent Dickson in Clydebank last December. He stopped another Scot, Jamie Coyle, in two rounds before that. He's won nine of his last 10. In 23 outings altogether, he's lost only to Nuumbembe, Elwell and the much-improved Matthew Hatton, whom he previously held to a draw, although Hatton stopped him.
Trained by ex-pro, Michael Marsden, Jones is a 'big' welterweight, having dropped down from light-middleweight, strong, fit, quick and busy. And he looks to be adding power to his work, though may be a bit flattered by the Sinclair win, given Neil has a recent history of folding. And the Elwell result is stark. Jones certainly doesn't look as good as Anderson's last challenger Magee, the only man to floor Ricky Hatton.
The champion, on home soil, simply has more tools than him.
As usual, I agree with bennie's concluding sentiments.
A couple of fights do need to be put into perspective though. The Elwell loss was a complete fluke. No idea what was going on in Jones' mind but he loaded up with a huge shot right at the start of the first with no guard and Elwell got there first.
The only reason Matthew Hatton stopped him was because he stupidly accepted the fight the day after a gruelling loss to Nuumbembe - who came quite close to halting Francis. The fight was a week later and Jones was completely depleted, nothing in the tank at all.
Agree that he's a bit flattered by the Sinky result - I watched it and he was having sporadic success but Sinclair was outboxing him but dramatically folded. Great KO though when the chance came.
A couple of fights do need to be put into perspective though. The Elwell loss was a complete fluke. No idea what was going on in Jones' mind but he loaded up with a huge shot right at the start of the first with no guard and Elwell got there first.
The only reason Matthew Hatton stopped him was because he stupidly accepted the fight the day after a gruelling loss to Nuumbembe - who came quite close to halting Francis. The fight was a week later and Jones was completely depleted, nothing in the tank at all.
Agree that he's a bit flattered by the Sinky result - I watched it and he was having sporadic success but Sinclair was outboxing him but dramatically folded. Great KO though when the chance came.
TREMENDOUS effort from both guys. 
Only a few weeks into the new season and we get served up an absolute hum-dinger. That was a really uplifting battle and I was astonished at Jones' thirst for victory.
For me it didn't matter that Jones only just failed to last the distance....he'd more than made his point by the time the bout was halted. It was almost fitting that he went out like that, it seemed an all or nothing effort from Franny and he certainly gave it his all.
Another solid and exciting performance from Anderson turning back his inspired challenger. An EBU shot is now fully deserved, although an extra defence of his British title wouldn't go unappreciated by the fans.
(Surely Anderson has won the Londsdale Belt outright ....Beats Mutley, defended against Dickson, Mandatory against Magee and a third win against Jones !? )
p.s. Would of posted on the other thread, but hate to see a classic battle like this overtaken with irrelevant crap 8)
Only a few weeks into the new season and we get served up an absolute hum-dinger. That was a really uplifting battle and I was astonished at Jones' thirst for victory.
For me it didn't matter that Jones only just failed to last the distance....he'd more than made his point by the time the bout was halted. It was almost fitting that he went out like that, it seemed an all or nothing effort from Franny and he certainly gave it his all.
Another solid and exciting performance from Anderson turning back his inspired challenger. An EBU shot is now fully deserved, although an extra defence of his British title wouldn't go unappreciated by the fans.
(Surely Anderson has won the Londsdale Belt outright ....Beats Mutley, defended against Dickson, Mandatory against Magee and a third win against Jones !? )
p.s. Would of posted on the other thread, but hate to see a classic battle like this overtaken with irrelevant crap 8)