 MICHAEL JONES played a starring role in what is a contender for fight of the year only to lose his British title in the seven-knockdown thriller to Jamie Moore. Amid an intimidating atmosphere inside the Altrincham Leisure Centre, Jones displayed plenty of bravery and heart in his performance but punched himself out of contention in a third round in which Moore was on the canvas twice. After a shaky start, Jones looked to be on course to make the first defence of the 11 stone Lonsdale Belt he took from Moore at the same venue in November, but the Mancunian clawed his way back into the contest. Exhausted after committing himself to a finish in the third, Jones simply had nothing left when Moore recovered and only sheer guts saw the 30-year-old from Speke make it as far as the sixth round. Jones started round one brightly, setting his gameplan in motion by staying on the back foot and keeping Moore on the end of his snappy left jab. Using the full dynamics of the 18-foot ring, the Speke stylist was slipping in straight left-right combinations then dancing away - frustrating his Salford rival. But the opening three minutes soon took the shape of the rest of the fight as Jones' early dominance was wiped out in the final minute with Moore landing three big overhand rights, and a left hook on the bell. The shot took some of the pace out of Jones' mobility and Moore, whose footwork on the night was excellent, started to force Jones into the corners and unload his big bombs which had the crowd screaming for Scouse blood. Before the fight Jones spoke of Moore's fondness of dirty tactics and all were evident in the opening two rounds as the Mancunian led with his head, shoulders and elbows. In the third round things got worse with Jones suffering a cut above his left eye from the first exchange. The writing looked on the wall, but the Scouser suddenly turned the fight on its head by driving Moore back into the centre of the ring to land a three-punch combination - the pick of which was a shuddering left hook which sent Moore down to the canvas. The pockets of Liverpool supporters around the venue leapt to their feet, but they were followed by Moore who, however shaky, dragged himself up off the floor. The referee waved Jones back in and the former Commonwealth champion leapt forward, turning Moore into his own corner. | 
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