Jones stops Sheika in 5 rounds

Flores decisions Herrera for NABO title

Monson, Lashley, Thomas and Hallman MMA winners
 

March 21, 2009

Pensacola Civic Center

Pensacola, Florida

Live on Pay-Per-View

PENSACOLA, Fla. (March 21, 2009) -- Fighting at home for the first time in a decade, 8-time world

champion Roy Jones, Jr. (53-5, 39 KOs) fought before a packed house of loyal fans and gave them exactly

what they came for with a dazzling display of superior quickness and athleticism en route to a fifth-round

stoppage of 4-time world title challenger Omar Sheika for the vacant NABO championship last night in

Pensacola, Florida.

Jones-Sheika (27-8) headlined tonight’s hybrid pro boxing/mixed-martial-arts show, presented by Jones’

Square Ring Promotions in association with Hirsch Borao Boxing, on pay-per-view live from the Pensacola

Civic Center.

The rejuvenated Jones put on another boxing clinic, firing a wide assortment of head and body punches that

consistently landed from every conceivable angle from start to finish on the rugged but overmatched Sheika,

who simply had no answers for the test given by the future Hall of Fame-bound Jones.

“I want to give thanks to Pensacola in the house,” Jones announced from the center of the ring after the fight.

I felt really good. I’m ready. With my father, Coach Merk and my team I’m more comfortable. Do you want

me back? (Roy asked the crowd that responded with a thunderous yes). I’ll be coming back.”

In the featured MMA fight of the night, Jeff Monson won a close three-round decision, 29-28 on three cards,

in an evenly matched battle between two of the best grapplers in the world. The fight was even going into the

final round, in which, Monson’s more effective striking – three clear punches – was the eventual difference.

“I wanted to go on the ground,” Monson commented. “I kept right with him. It was a big win. Roy’s a tough

guy.”

Nelson didn’t agree with the final decision. “I got robbed,” he claimed. “It was a boring fight on the ground, but

I was controlling the fight and that usually determines the winner. Only in Florida does Roy get robbed

(referring to his controversial loss to Andrei Arlovski).”

Unbeaten world-rated B.J. Flores, improving his record to 23-0, captured the vacant NABO junior heavyweight

title by a one-sided, unanimous 10-round decision in a workmanlike effort against Colombian knockout artist

Jose Luis Herrera (16-6, 16 KOs).

“He’s a veteran with 16 knockouts,” Flores said of Herrera. “By the third or fourth round I knew I could hurt

him with some big shots, but I hit him with a left (hurting his hand) in the forehead. I used it early but not

later. In the 10th I started to put it together. I went the distance with Herrera and next I want Victor Ramirez

(WBO Interim junior heavyweight champion).”

“He was a little faster than me and he moved better,” Herrera agreed with the decision. “I was a little

frustrated by him throughout the fight.”

Going into the match with only one round of MMA experience, former WWE star Bobby Lashley was able to

win all three rounds against tough veteran Jason Guida, a replacement who took the fight on 1-½ week

notice. Guida nearly pulled-off a major upset early in the third round with a guillotine choke, but the

powerfully built Lashley was able to pop his head out of the hold.

“I thought I had him,” Guida noted as he shook his head in frustration when the scores were announced.

“He had it on tight and deep,” Lashley remarked. “But I held on and got out. I didn’t use all of my wrestling

skills. This is a sport where we’re gentleman and fighters. His talk got to me a little but my corner helped me

keep my mind strong. I’m going right back to the training room.”

Featherweight Din Thomas’ experience and striking advantages resulted in a first-round technical knockout

of Gabe Lemley at 4:13 of the first round. Thomas’ series of powerful strikes led Lemley to try and shoot

underneath Thomas (23-8), who countered with a picture perfect Muay Thai-knee, sending Lemley down,

face first, as the referee immediately halted the action due to the force of the impact.

“Yeah,” Thomas explained, “I set him up with my punches. I had a lot of fun here; I love Pensacola. Boxing is

a major part of MMA and was glad to be part of this (boxing/MA event). I took advantage of my experience. I

can fight in a cage, ring or parking lot – I don’t care.”

Sixty-three fight MMA veteran Dennis “Superman” Hallman (49-12-2) didn’t miss a beat despite having his

first fight in 16 months as he locked-in a rear naked choke from the back, forcing welterweight Danny Ruiz to

tap-out at 1:50 of the opening round.

“I guess the layoff didn’t hurt,” Hallman said after the fight. “It took a few seconds for me to get going, but

once he hit me I knew I was in a fight and got going.”

Full results below:

BOXING

NABO Light Heavyweight Title Bout - vacant (12 Rds)

Roy Jones Jr. (53-5, 39 KOs) wins by TKO at 1:45 of the fifth round over Omar Sheika (27-9, 18 KOs) -

Jones Jr. wins title.

NBAO Jr. Heavyweight Title Bout - vacant (10 Rds)

B.J. Flores (23-0, 14 KOs) wins a unanimous decision over Jose Luis Herrera (16-6, 16 KOs) - Judges

scored the bout 99-91, 99-91, 98-91 for Flores - Flores wins title.

Heavyweight Bout (6 Rds)

Kelvin Price (5-0, 4 KOs) wins a majority decision over Kevin Howard (1-2-1, 0 KOs) - Judges scored

the bout 59-55, 58-56, 57-57 for Price.

Super Middleweight Bout (4 Rds)

Richmond Dalphone (2-5, 1 KO) wins a unanimous decision over Eric Clinton (0-6-1) - Judges scored

the bout 38-37, 38-37, 38-37 for Dalphone.

Bantamweight Bout (4 Rds)

Kieyon Bussey (7-0, 4 KOs) wins a majority decision over Robert DaLuz (11-17, 9 KOs) - Judges scored

the bout 58-56, 58-56, 57- 57 for Bussey.

MMA

Heavyweight Bout

Jeff Monson (25-6) wins a three round unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28) over Roy Nelson (13-4)

Heavyweight Bout

Bobby Lashley (2-0) wins a three rd unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27) over Jason Guida (17-20)

Welterweight Bout

Dennis Hallman (49-12-2) wins by sub. (rear naked choke) at 1:50 of the 1st rd over Danny Ruiz (8-4)

Welterweight Bout

James Freeman (1-0) wins by knockout (punch) at 2:38 of the first round over John Mowry (0-1)

Featherweight Bout

Din Thomas (23-8) wins by TKO (knee strike) at 4:13 of the first round over Gabe Lemley (13-9)
 

- Press Release from Full Court Press with a little editing from us (color, result structure, etc...)

(3/21/09)