Former world title challenger Mike Jones (26-2, 19 KOs) got off to a good start last Saturday night against little known Jaime Herrera (12-2, 7 KOs) in knocking him down twice in the early rounds, but then Jones ran out of gas completely and ended up being stopped in the 7th round at Bally’s in Atlantic City.
The fight was halted in between the 7th and 8th round by the advice of the ringside doctor due to Jones’ left eye. Earlier in the fight, Jones knocked Herrera down with a left hook in the 2nd round. In the 3rd, Jones flurried on Herrera and dropped him again.
Herrera had done the better work in both rounds, but Jones’ power got the better of him. Jones suffered a cut over his left eye from a head-butt in the round, and he seemed really bothered by the cut.
After the 3rd, Jones started fading badly from the heavy pressure that Herrera put on him. Herrera forced a fast pace that Jones didn’t look ready for. In truth, Jones looked like he only had the conditioning to fight just 3 rounds instead of a full fight.
The 6th and 7th rounds were totally one-sided with Herrera battering an exhausted Jones with combinations to the head and body. Jones was trying to fight back, but he didn’t have any energy on his shots. He did a lot of holding and looked spent.
In hindsight, Jones should have fought someone a little more beatable than Herrera. It’s not that Herrera is a great fighter. With Jones coming off of a 2-year layoff, he was taking a big risk in facing a decent 2nd tier fighter like Herrera.
Jones’ management should have found a 3rd tier guy with a chin problem and had him fight this guy. But with the way that he was beaten, it’s going to be tough seeing Jones come back from this loss. He’s 31 and not a young fighter.
Other action on the card:
Tommy LaManna UD 8 Jamaal Davis
Grashino Yancy SD 4 Carlos Rosario
Ismael Garcia UD 6 Gilbert Alex Sanchez
Joey Cusumano TKO 2 Randy Easton