By By Austin Bishop/EMG regional sports director
July 28, 2002
The third time was certainly not the charm for Willie Washington at the Frank Cochran Center on Saturday night.
Meridian's James Hard to Beat' Jones lived up to his nickname as he took a knockout win over Washington when the referee stopped the fight in the fourth round. It was the third time that Jones has knocked out Washington.
What did happen was that after a first round in which he just felt Washington out, Jones pounded his opponent, knocking him down in the second round and getting standing eight counts in the third and fourth.
With the win Jones retained the Mississippi Heavyweight Championship title that he had taken away from Washington with the second knockout.
Jones, now 9-2 with nine knockouts, said he is through fighting Washington.
The first round of the bout was actually fairly even as both fighters stayed at arm's reach, with very few solid punches being thrown.
Next up for the 35-year-old Jones is a USBO Heavyweight title fight in Tunica on Aug. 17 against Greg Pickrom of Houston, Texas.
Saturday night's win was the first fight for Jones in 11 months, so he was glad to get a chance to face off with Washington before taking on Pickrom.
Other Meridian fighters on the Tunica card with Jones will be Brad McNeil, Freddie Collins and George Burrage.