1970's ~ Top Heavyweight Upsets

[Bill Paxtom]

'Upset Special #26'

Tuesday ~ April 9, 1974

Sportatorium ~ Dallas, Texas
Capacity.... 4500

Promoter; Pat O'Grady

Boone Kirkman ~ 32-2-0 {23 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 208 lbs.
vs.
'Memphis' Al Jones ~ 6-21-2 {5 KO's} ~ 6' 2" ~ 218 lbs.
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'The Skinny'

Boone 'Boom Boom' Kirkman >
{Age; 29 years, 3 months} was the #8 WBA-ranked Heavyweight.

The Renton, Washington Heavyweight had just come off an 'upset' 10-Round Split-Decision
win over former WBA Champion Jimmy Ellis on December 12, 1973.

Manager - Jack 'Deacon' Hurley was looking for an easy 'tune-up' bout for his fighter, as
there were several big-money offers waiting, including one with former Heavyweight
Champion - Smokin' Joe Frazier, and also one with Kenny Norton.

'Memphis' Al Jones >
{Age; 31 years, 6 months}, from Memphis, Tennessee was the consequential 'opponent'.

'Memphis' Al was coming into this bout, by suffering '12' Knockouts in his '21-losses'. Jones
was labeled as a typical 'come-to-lose' cannon-fodder/record-padder.

In his 9-year career, 'Memphis' had scored one big upset win, a {KO 2} over Tony 'Kid' Longoria
back on March 17, 1969.

'Memphis' also scored '2' Knockdowns on Jerry Quarry back on January 11, 1967, only to get stopped
{L KO 5}.

Common-opponent > Jones lost a recent bout {L KO 7} to Jimmy Ellis on October 23, 1973.
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'The Bout'

In the Opening Round, Boone smartly boxed for the first 2-Minutes, as Jones was content
to let him dictate the pace.

Then Boone barreled in, and slammed several hard-punches to Jones' body that appeared to
hurt him.

Then Boone slammed in '2' right-hands to the head, and dropped Jones at the {2:17 Mark}.
Jones was up at the '2-Count' and ready to continue.

Boone came in charging, and slammed several solid punches to the head, as Jones backed
away to the Ropes. Boone then fired in a barrage of body-punches, and Jones went down
again at the {2:42 Mark}. Jones was up at the '6-Count', and was ready to go on.

With only a few seconds to go in the 1st-Round, Boone did not attack and let Jones escape.

In Round 2, Boone used a 'slow-and-steady' attack in pressuring Jones, who did his best to
stay in close and prevent Boone from unloading his heavy-punches.

But at the {1:55 Mark}, Boone caught Jones with a short left-hook to the chin, and Jones
went down again. Jones took the 'Mandatory 8-Count', and was ready to continue.

Boone slowly moved in, and continued with his body-attack, as Jones was on the receiving
end of a pounding for the next 30-Seconds. Then at the {2:40 Mark}, Jones took a knee.

Jones took the 'Mandatory 8-Count', and wanted to continue. Boone slowly moved in, and
had Jones ready to go, but he failed to deliver a good punch over the last 10-Seconds.

Al Jones appreared out-of-it after suffering '4-Knockdowns' over the first 2-Rounds.

Coming out for Round 3, Boone moved in with his hands low, and looking to unload the
finisher. Al Jones stepped out of his corner to meet Boone at Center-Ring, but was slowly
backed up to his Corner.

Boone then moved in, and swung with a wide left-hook, as Jones ducked under the punch. Then
'Memphis Al' countered with a 'powerful' right-hook that caught Boone 'on-the-button'.

Boone went down 'like-a-rock' at the {0:15 Mark}, and was counted out.

Boone was laid out for 5-Minutes on the canvas.

'Ring Magazine' awarded 'Memphis' Al Jones the {Upset of the Month}.



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~ Jones Wins KO Upset ~