Trainer Abel Sanchez believes Carson Jones’ return to his California training base will see him dismiss Brian Rose in style in their rematch at the KC Lightstream Stadium in Hull tomorrow night, live on Sky Sports.
Jones returned to Sanchez’s Big Bear training base in California for the first time since his draw with Dean Byrne in London in December 2012, and the trainer of Kazakh star Gennady Golovkin believes that the Oklahoma man will provide a conclusive ending to the controversial rivalry with Rose.
Jones landed a first-round stoppage win over Blackpool man in his backyard in February, bouncing back from being hurt by Rose early in the round to rock ‘The Lion’ with a barrage of shots that saw the referee jump in and stop the action.
Sanchez believes that the controversy from the first fight has added more fuel to the fire beneath the rematch, and that Jones will be the man that moves forward with his career this weekend.
“As rematches go this is natural for this one to happen in light of the controversy,” said Sanchez. “Fortunately for Carson he has spent eight weeks in camp with us this time and he looks fantastic – so I hope Rose has prepared well.
“Carson has been away from me for four or five fights, but after the first fight with Rose he called me up and said he wanted to work with me again and he’s done a long camp for the rematch.
“You can never criticise the judges or the referee’s for their decision, we want them to feel safe and to go home to their families. It’s better to air on the side of caution than someone get seriously hurt. Tomorrow we will find out for sure if it was a premature stoppage last time.
“Whether it was controversial or not, the referee is there to protect the fighters, he felt Brian needed protecting, and he stopped the fight. It’s made for a more appealing and highly anticipated rematch, and Carson is focused on it as he knows Brian wants revenge.
“Carson has rededicated himself back to the level he was when he first fought Kell Brook here. Rose is our focus but after we win that we will aiming for a World title shot.”
Rose made the agreed weight limit for the non-title fight at the second attempt at today’s weigh-in at Victoria Square in Hull, returning to weigh 11st 3lbs 1oz, with Jones a touch heavier at 11st 3lbs 6oz.
Jones’ rematch with Rose is part of a massive night of action in Hull topped by the all-Hull WBC World lightweight title official eliminator between Luke Campbell MBE and Tommy Coyle.
Former two-weight World champion Ricky Burns back in action after his heroic performance in Texas against Omar Figueroa, Martin J. Ward defends his WBC international super-featherweight title and unbeaten Brixton heavyweight Dillian Whyte in action.
