With the current situation with the light middles, i.e. the top guys losing. I was wandering what happened to two fighters who could still be major players in this devision. Following successful (exposure and performance wise) 2002, these two fighters were expected to figure prominently in 2003, but I have heard anything about them following their set backs.
The fighters.
1) Former Commonwealth champion Michael Jones. The performances of Moore since his crowning night against Jones, show that even in his worse showing, still looks like he could give many some problems.
2) Paul Samuels. I think its been over a year since he last faught, has he backed it in.
Two Forgotton Light Middles.
Re: Two Forgotton Light Middles.
Jones has been plugging away quietly since the bad beating he took at the hands of Jamie Moore. He was originally scheduled to fight Darren Rhodes on the recent Huddersfield bill - a risky match, which in the end Steve Roberts took and lost. So Jones did well to get out of that one, and his camp may be grooming him for a shot at IBO champ Sergio Martinez, or, and this wouldn't surprise me, a showdown with Richard Williams for the vacant Commonwealth title on January 31 at York Hall. So there are a few options out there for the lanky Scouser. Jamie Moore himself, is only win away from a Lonsdale Belt outright if he gets past former conqueror Scott Dixon on February 14 in Nottingham, so Jones may be in line for a shot at the vacant title if Moore, as expected, vacates to move on to the European scene.stujones wrote:With the current situation with the light middles, i.e. the top guys losing. I was wandering what happened to two fighters who could still be major players in this devision. Following successful (exposure and performance wise) 2002, these two fighters were expected to figure prominently in 2003, but I have heard anything about them following their set backs.
The fighters.
1) Former Commonwealth champion Michael Jones. The performances of Moore since his crowning night against Jones, show that even in his worse showing, still looks like he could give many some problems.
2) Paul Samuels. I think its been over a year since he last faught, has he backed it in.
Gawd knows where Samuels is!
I do believe Jones holds an early career win over none other than Takaloo, he looked okay when dismissing Joshua Onyango but unfortunately just could not handle the slicker Jamie Moore. He can return though and as Bennie said he has been making steady progress since his loss. As for Samuels well...he certainly did ok against Alexander before he was KO'd and in the first fight with Williams he was arguably getting the better of things before the cut eye. And he extended Williams well in the second encounter before running out of steam, i think both can come back and do something decent at domestic level for sure.
He also suffered a perforated eardrum in the fight, which affected his balance. Of course, you have to ask yourself how he suffered these injures!stujones wrote:While, I'm not putting a dampener on Moore excellent performance and thouroughly deserved victory over Jones. I do think Jones' early damage to his nose (probably broken) definately hampered his performance.
Incidentally, it just dawned on me that Mihaly Kotei is due to defend his WBF light-middleweight title on the York Hall bill at the end of the month. No opponent announced as yet, but it could be Jones.
Yeah of course, like I said I'm not trying to take anything away from Moore - just writing incase some states "well, he was crap against Moore". Moore inflicted the injuries, which is a credit to him - but it doesn't stop me from thinking that Jones will be a lot better the next time he fights.bennie wrote: He also suffered a perforated eardrum in the fight, which affected his balance. Of course, you have to ask yourself how he suffered these injures.
Same with McCullough!