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Last night, former Commonwealth and British Champion Michael “The Destiny” Jones challenged European Light Middleweight Champion Michele Piccirillo at the Palalido in Milan, Italy.
This was the Italian’s second defence of his title but the taller Jones, from Liverpool, England was in confident mood as he entered the ring wearing white shorts.
British Supporters could be heard mumbling along to the National Anthem as they waved St. George Flags. “Gentleman of the Ring” Michele Piccirillo, a former IBF Welterweight Champion, had never been stopped and looked strong and focused as he stood in blue trunks for his National Anthem.
Round one was a good opening round for both boxers as they sussed each other out in the ring. In the second frame there were signs that the left hand of southpaw Jones might cause the Italian some problems as Piccirillo lost his balance slightly in the closing minute of the round. This was a good round for Jones against the far more experienced Piccirillo.
Jones is clearly settling into the fight after a confident round three and in the fourth, a hard left hand from the Liverpudlian cuts the right brow of Piccirillo. A low blow from Piccirillo in the opening seconds of round five prompts disapproval from Belgian referee, Philippe Verbeke and later in the round Piccirillo is seen to have blood on the bridge of his nose.
In the last half-minute of round six, Piccirillo steps it up and Jones is under pressure. Perhaps it’s just the prompt he needed as Jones responds, but this has been a good round for the Italian.
Left hands from Piccirillo in the eighth round snaps Jones’ head back and in the last 30 seconds of the round, several rights from Piccirillo rock the Englishman. The crowd roars with excitement and neither the boxers, nor the referee, hear the bell and they continue boxing. Only when Piccirillo’s trainer jumps into the ring does a surprised referee end the round.
Midway through the tenth, the referee takes a point off Jones for “use of the head” following a head clash. This was met with disapproving jeers from the British contingent, as Jones had received no previous warnings. Jones struggles as Piccirillo continues to land shots. Jones is still in the fight but the experienced Italian looks to have edged ahead.
After a good round for Jones in the eleventh, he looks to go all out for it in the twelfth and final round. But with 1:10 to go in the fight, he is hurt from a right hook and Piccirillo continues the onslaught until Jones finally falls to the canvas in Piccirillo’s corner.
The Italian wins by TKO in the close of round 12.
“I came out for the 12th Round and I wasn’t even tired” said Michael Jones after the fight, “But I just didn’t see the shot, I relaxed and he caught me.”
With the win, Michele Piccirillo retains the European Light Middleweight crown and improves to 47-3 (30). Michael Jones falls to 24-3 (10).
Also on the bill, promoted by Milan based OPI 2000, ex-British Welterweight Champion Young Muttley, 22-2 (12), banged out a six round points win over Polish trial horse Arek Malek, 4-7-2 (2), and former European Welterweight title challenger Antonio Lauri, 29-4-2 (10), outpointed Andrei Rimer, 3-6-1 (2), over six rounds.
