MICHEAL JONES got back in the championship groove courtesy of a third round stoppage of Darren Rhodes at the Manchester Evening News Arena on Saturday night.
After hitting the canvas early on in the third of this title eliminator, the former Commonwealth light-middleweight champ pulled out all the stops to beat Rhodes into submission and position himself as number one contender for his old crown.
The Speke stylist lost his title 12 months ago to Manchester's Jamie Moore in a British and Commonwealth unification match at Everton Park Sports Centre. After reluctantly relinquishing the latter in January to allow promotional stablemate Richard Williams to seize it over Ghana's Ayittey Powers before he too gave it up for an IBO shot this weekend, Moore reclaimed the vacant crown on the same MEN bill on Saturday, but Jones is now ready to take it back while avenging the only defeat on his 20-1-0 slate.
"I'm number one contender now and I want my belt back plus the British title," said a jubilant Jones. "They belong here on Merseyside with me."
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