After a year of disappointment and injury, Mike Jones finally got what he wanted, a fight on national television against a world class opponent. It was his chance to prove himself to boxing fans around the country that he is the next big thing in the Welterweight division. Maybe he didn’t get the knock out victory that his fans have become accustomed to, but he proved that he could take on an opponent that has fought some of the best in the boxing world and win. Bruseles last lost in the ring was to Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Jones had a slow start in the fight. Bruseles was doing most of the work in the first round. At one point, Bruseles landed a punch when Jones seemed a little off balance. But Jones managed to stay on his feet. The beginning of the second round was much of the same. Jones would throw a jab here and there but failed to put the punches together. It was Bruseles again who was doing most of the work, throwing combinations and forcing Jones to fight while moving backward. By the end of the second round, Jones was starting to look more like the contender so many have thought that he is.

However, it was the third round that Jones started to fight the way he needed to fight to win. He seemed less cautious, willing to get hit to land his own shots. And he was putting together his shots, following his jabs with a right hand. But this was not deterring Bruseles. In the fourth round, Bruseles seemed to concentrate his efforts on the body of Jones. Jones might have had the height advantage, but if Bruseles could tire him out, that advantage would mean little. Jones, for his part, finished the fourth round strong.

The fifth round might have still been some concern to the corner of Jones. Bruseles throughout the round looked consistent, coming in and landing shots. Jones was fighting more in bursts. At the end of the round, Jones landed a hard right to the head of Bruseles. Those bursts and that right was more than enough to convince the judges that Jones had won the round. The sixth round seemed a lot like the fifth, but with one real difference. Jones was fighting more aggressively, and he was being more consistent in his attack.

For those of you who have never seen Mike Jones fight before and caught the broadcast, I would have to say the real Mike Jones did not come out of his corner until the seventh round. He was fighting the way I have seen in so many fights before. He was the aggressor, giving little ground to Bruseles. In fact, unlike the first two rounds, Bruseles was the backing up this round. At the end of the round, Jones landed a shot to the head of Bruseles stunning him. Jones started strong in the eighth round. He was fighting with determination. He seemed to be looking for that knock out. But Bruseles proved to have a tough chin, and at the end of the round, he gave a spirited fight to Jones.

Bruseles came out as the aggressor in the ninth round. He was again attacking the body of Jones. Jones, at times, seemed to be taking it too easy in this round. However, he did land some good shots to the head of Bruseles. Bruseles again proved that he had a granite chin. Jones after a rocky start finished the round strong.

Jones came out in the tenth round once again looking like the Mike Jones that I have seen time and time again. He was working the body of Bruseles. The round was a little more back and forth than previous rounds. Both fighters were determined to win this fight. Jones, toward the end of the round, stunned Bruseles with a right to the head. He then stunned him again with another shot. Maybe with more time Jones could have put Bruseles down on the mat. Or maybe, Bruseles was not going to go down for anyone. Two judges scored the fight 98-92. The third judge scored the fight 97-92.

After the fight, Jones made the comment on television that he gave himself a “C” for the fight but was happy with the win. In the back talking to reporters, Jones said that he “just had to get his distance.” He gave Bruseles credit for his “granite chin” and his fighting style. “I had to get to his body. He was covering up his body pretty good.” He called Bruseles a “proven veteran” and said that he wanted to fight those of the same caliber or better. He also went on to say that he believed 2010 was going to be his breakout year.

Maybe Jones didn’t give his fans and those watching him for the first time the knock out win that he wanted to give them. But he gave the country the opportunity to see what he can do. He proved that he is a determined fighter. He proved that he can fight and win against a proven fighter. Will he make adjustments before his next fight? I am sure he will. He fought injured from the end of 2008 and most of 2009, and he never backed down in a fight. He did what he needed to do to win and keep moving forward. And I believe that he will continue to do what he needs to do.