Guillermo Jones Gets TKO Win Over Mike Marrone on King Card

Guillermo Jones won a TKO6 over Mike Marrone in the main event of Don King's Saturday night card, which unfolded at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, Florida. Joey Hernadez also got a W, over Elco Garcia, via UD12. Here are quotes from the main players.

Guillermo Jones (WBA cruiserweight champion):  “Marrone tried to do some things, but when I saw he didn’t want to have much to do with me, I started boxing him.  I wanted to use my jab and show that I still have great boxing skills.  I thanked Marrone for making me fight him the way I did.

“I would like to fight a Klitschko.  They’re fighting blown-up cruiserweights, but I can fight at heavyweight.  I’m a fighter.  I have always come to fight and I always will.

“The tiger is hungry.  He needs more meat.”  

Mike Marrone (WBA No. 14-ranked contender):  “The biggest difference were the angles of Jones.  He threw punches from unusual angles, like I had never seen before.  I got hit too often in the beginning, so I knew I had to make the fight a brawl.

“He hits with power and precision, but I got some shots in of my own.  I wanted to continue but the fight was stopped.”

Joey Hernandez (New WBC U.S. super welterweight champion) “Elco Garcia was a tough guy.  He came to fight.  I was told he couldn’t punch, but after the flash knockdown in the first round, I can tell you he can punch. But I’m not going to punch with a puncher.  I looked for angles and scoring opportunities to come back and win it.

“I pulled something in the ball of my foot in the fourth round, but I wasn’t going to quit.  I dug down deep and showed heart and determination to come back and win it.  All the judges agreed with me.”

Elco Garcia (Fought Joey Hernandez):  “The referee said Hernandez knocked me down in the second round but he didn’t.  Then Joey took a knee in a later round and the ref missed it.

“I feel I did enough to win, definitely.  Everyone in the arena thought I won, too.

“I don’t think Joey even belongs at this weight.  He should move down.”

Francisco Palacios (WBC No. 1-ranked cruiserweight and mandatory challenger to the champion, who will face the winner of Krzysztof Wlodarczyk vs. Danny Green in Perth, Australia, on Nov. 30): “Godfrey was a very good fighter.  He was a good fighter for me to face coming off the controversial split-decision loss in Poland [against Krzysztof Wlodarczyk].  Godfrey was durable, covered up a lot and even headbutted me.  It was hard to break his guard down.

“I learned a lot from this fight.  I learned that I need this work.  Wlodarczyk covered up a lot and this guy covered up a lot.  I need this work to learn how to break down these defensive guys.

“I wish Danny Green and Wlodarczyk good luck in Australia on Nov. 30.  Wlodarczyk got an early birthday gift in my fight with him.  Whoever wins their fight will not be receiving any gifts from me when I fight the winner.”

Angelo Santana (WBA FEDECARIBE super lightweight champion): “I felt great tonight.  The work I am doing in the gym with my trainer—the whole team, Don King, my manager, everyone—is really paying off.  This fight and my last fight were quick knockouts.

“My opponent tonight had never been stopped in the early rounds, only the late rounds.  It’s all coming together for me right now.  I feel I am ready to achieve big things.

“I will fight anyone.  I think I can move down to 135 pounds and still be strong.  I look forward to the next fight Don King makes for me.”

Gusmyr Perdomo (Super middleweight contender): “My opponent [Lafarrell Bunting] was not an easy fighter.  I waited for him to throw but he didn’t much.  He also came in heavy, so he wasn’t easy to move.  Still, I felt good tonight.  I am now better prepared for my next challenge.”