Model performance as Jones looks cut above Bhatia

Crawley’s Ben Jones became the English super-featherweight champion by mastering Akaash Bhatia before their contest was halted in the eighth round following an accidental head clash in Gillingham last night.

The 28 year-old Jones had bossed the bout from the first bell and was deservedly awarded a technical point’s decision by judges Richie Davies 79-73, Victor Loughlin 78-75, and Ian John Lewis 79-73. Akaash (9st 4lb), had come into the ring looking like a male model with his glittering shorts and slick hair cut, but his display against Jones (9st 3lb 12oz) couldn’t match his designs. By the end of the opening round Bhatia’s model looks were tarnished with a cut right eye thanks to the potent left hand of Jones. And that same weapon was a major factor in overcoming the popular Akaash who was an open target while looking second best throughout.

Jones with a target to aim at also opened a cut under Bhatia’s left eye in the third round, but the Harrow man had his best session in the fourth when he rocked Jones’ head backwards and displayed a sharp three punch combination. It proved to be his only outright successful round as Jones used both hands to further press home his advantage and the round became 10-8 when referee Mark Greene deducted one point for spitting out his gum shield. Experienced trainer Jimmy Tibbs was a worried onlooker as he could see firsthand Jones was building an uncatchable lead and that concern turned to further frustration as Akaash’s gum shield was dispatched for the third time in total during the sixth.

Despite his undoubted skills, Akaash looked greatly off the pace but managed an eye catching three punch combination but that resulted in him beginning to blow. Moments before the eventual end came Akaash was on the wrong end of two more head punches from Jones who gave a consummate performance but for Bhatia the future looks somewhat uncertain.

The super-featherweights is a highly competitive division and Jones now (12-2-1) will need more displays of this nature to compete at title level while Bhatia (15-2) despite his potential hasn’t yet established himself at the championship level.