Brandon Jones reckons that he’s strong enough to keep forcing the finish with top-level sparring supporting his training.
He goes again when BCB Promotions return to the Eastside Rooms, on Woodcock Street in Birmingham, as part of Sunday afternoon’s showdown (June 26).
The Brummie, from Chelmsley Wood, has shared a training ring with Ben Whittaker and Jamie Cox, who have vied for major honours in the amateur and pro ranks respectively.
Whittaker, who is soon to turn pro, claimed silver at the last Olympic Games, while former Commonwealth champion Cox challenged George Groves for a WBA ‘super’ world title.
Jones has two national accolades from his own amateur career and he’s still under the tutelage of John Costello, who coached him when he took up boxing at the age of eight.
In his teenage years, Jones amassed 38 amateur bouts, 30 of them victories, and went all of the way in the 2014 England Junior Championships and the NABC competition of 2016.
The 22-year-old light heavyweight made his pro debut last October, dismantling Ryan Bithell in three rounds to land a maiden paid TKO.
He then had to settle for two four-round points whitewashes, overcoming Antony Woolery and Elvis Dube by 40-36 scorelines, before he was matched again with Dube in April.
Dube was done by the end of the first round, retiring from action citing a shoulder injury, with Jones crediting his work with fitness guru Miles Wood as a contributing factor.
Jones said: “My strength and conditioning work has made a difference and that showed with the stoppage last time. I’d have liked the TKO, but I’ll settle for the result.
“The sparring has gone up a notch, too, it’s the first time I’ve sparred with Ben (Whittaker) and Jamie (Cox) and I didn’t feel out of place. In fact, I’ve held my own.
“I’m more used to the spars with Ryan (Kelly, fellow pro and stable-mate) and we know each other inside out, so we have some good sessions, where both of us get pushed to our limits.
“I had Elvis (Dube) again, in my last fight, because my opponent had pulled out the day before. I just thought to myself that I had to beat him better than I did in the previous one.
“After the training camp that I’d had, I don’t think he could handle the heat that I put on him. If he had carried on, I’d have definitely stopped him.
“The first time that we boxed, I picked him off with the jab and he didn’t really catch me, but I had a lot more power to me when it came around again.
“This will be my last four-rounder and I’m stepping up to six for next time. Another win here takes me to 5-0 and I can kick on from there.
“It would be great if I can get to next year and be in a position where I can challenge for the English title. That’s what I really want for my first proper test.”
Tickets for the Eastside Rooms bill are available, priced at £40 standard or £75 VIP ringside with buffet, directly from the boxers or by visiting myfighttickets.com.
Please note that doors will open at 1pm and not 2pm, as previously stated. VIPs Sunday dinner is to be served at 1.30pm.
