Revenge is sweet for Rock
Dubliner Jim Rock secured a hard-fought points decision over Alan Jones at the National Stadium last night to finally lay claim to a world title.
The self-styled “Pink Panther” had to go the full 12 rounds to garner the vacant IBC Middleweight title – the first world belt of his 10-year pro career.
A strong start and finish saw judges John Cooper, Emile Tiedt and Paul Thomas score the fight – 116-112, 116-112 and 117-112 – unanimously in Rock’s favour.
The 33-year-old, who lost his only previous world title shot to Iranian Mehrdud Takaloo in Belfast in 2002, was seeking revenge against Jones.
The Welshman, four years younger and two inches taller than Rock, beat the Dubliner two years ago.
With memories of that fight fresh in his mind, Rock dictated the opening three rounds, working off an effective left jab and long right combination.
Jones awoke from his slumber in the sixth, staggering Rock with a flurry of punches, including some heavy right hands.
Jones’ right was chipping away at Rock, but the home favourite began to find his range from body shots in the ninth. A scrappy final three rounds were slightly shaded by Rock, who confirmed the win with a heavy right to Jones’s body right on the final bell.
Rock, who began his pro career at the Point Depot back in 1995, said afterwards: “It feels great - this is a dream for me. I’m dumbfounded.
“Alan Jones is a very tough man. He came on very strong in the second half of the fight. But I’ve been training hard for 12 weeks for this and I was ready to go the distance.
“He was the one who got tired and I dominated the fight.”
Asked about his immediate future, Rock added: “I don’t know. I’m going to have a talk with Brian (Peters) and my trainer John (Breen). I’ll have a few weeks’ break first.”
