Panamas Guillermo Jones successfully defended his WBA cruiserweight title, stopping Mike Marrone in the sixth round Saturday night at Hard Rock Live Arena.Jones improved to 38-3-2 with his 30th knockout. Marrone dropped to 20-4.Jones overpowered the outmatched Marrone with an array of head and body punches.Late in the fifth round, Jones had the first of two knockdowns, dropped Marrone with a right to the head. Marrone, from Vero Beach, Fla., reached his feet at the count of eight.The minutes rest between rounds wasnt enough to revive Marrone, a natural heavyweight, who had only one previous fight at the 200-pound cruiserweight limit. Jones carefully measured his shots and landed a series of combinations to the head, sending Marrone to the canvas a second time.Although Marrone again reached his feet before the 10-count, his cornermen felt he had absorbed enough punishment and instructed referee Tellis Assimenios to stop the fight at 1:55 of the round.I wanted to show that I still have great boxing skills, Jones said. I wanted to work a few extra rounds.Jones was busy from the opening round, connecting with rights to head. Jones also attempted to establish combinations to the body but was warned for landing below the belt.In the second round, Jones intensified his attack, pinning the slower Marrone to the ropes and connecting repeatedly with rights and lefts to the head. Jones also was effective with combinations to the body.A game Marrone countered with a left hook to the head in the third, but not before Jones had enjoyed another strong round with punishing power punches.Jones again landed the telling shots in the fourth as he often led with a left jab. Marrone scored with two left hooks, but they didnt faze Jones, who finished the round, pinning Marrone to the ropes again with straight rights to the head.I never saw angles like this in my life, Marrone said. I wanted to make it a war because that was the only way I could win the fight.Jones weighed in at 197 pounds, while Marrone was at 198.
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