Guillermo Jones


Guillermo Jones is a Panamanian former professional boxer who competed from 1993 to 2017. He held the WBA cruiserweight title from 2008 to 2012, and challenged twice for the WBA super welterweight title in 1998.

Professional career

Jones made his professional debut in 1993 as a welterweight, and was a world champion as a cruiserweight 20 years later in 2013 He won his first 21 bouts in Panama, but was then stopped in Venezuela in two rounds by David Noel of Trinidad and Tobago in September 1997. He avenged that loss two months later in Panama by first round Knockout. Now aligned with promoter Don King, Jones fought two light middleweight WBA world title bouts against Laurent Boudouani in 1998. He drew once and lost the rematch by split decision in 12 round contests.
Jones fought his way through four weight classes. Later fighting as a cruiserweight in 2002, he fought Johnny Nelson for the WBO World cruiserweight title, drawing in 12 rounds in his third world title attempt. Most in attendance thought Jones had done enough to win the title from Nelson.
After yet another split decision loss in 2005 to future cruiserweight world title holder Steve Cunningham, Jones rebounded the same year with knockouts of Kelvin Davis and Wayne Braithwaite.
Jones got a shot at WBA World Cruiserweight champion Firat Arslan on September 27, 2008 and won the WBA world title by tenth round stoppage. He was the heaviest, and the oldest professional fighter from Panama to have achieved a world championship when he became Panama's 28th world boxing champion. After winning the WBA title, Jones created controversy when he went through a two year period of inactivity while remaining WBA world champion.
In August 2010, the WBA finally threatened to strip Jones of his belt unless he defended his world title. As a result, he made his first defense of his world title against Valery Brudov in October 2010, scoring an eleventh round stoppage in Panama City.
Jones second defense of his title was scheduled to take place on June 25, 2011, against then undefeated Ryan Coyne. A few days before the fight, Jones pulled out, citing a back injury sustained following a training session. Jones later announced he would make a mandatory defense against Yoan Pablo Hernández. The fight was scheduled to take place in Germany on August 27, 2011, but the bout was cancelled with no specific reason.
Jones the defended his WBA world title against Mike Marrone. The fight took place in Florida on November 5, 2011, with Jones retaining his title via a TKO in the sixth round. After over a year of inactivity, Jones was declared the champion in recess after he backed out of a title defense against boxer Andres Taylor of Pennsylvania. Denis Lebedev of Russia won the interim WBA World title and then won the vacant WBA World title after Jones refused to fight him. After 18 months of inactivity, Jones traveled to Russia to fight Lebedev and settle matters regarding who the legitimate WBA world champion was, himself or Lebedev.
On May 17, 2013, Jones, the WBA World Cruiserweight champion 'in recess', cut and closed the left eye of Denis Lebedev in the first round. He eventually knocked out the other WBA World Cruiserweight champion 'claimant', Denis Lebedev of Russia, at 1:54 of the eleventh round to settle the issue once and for all as to who the true WBA World Cruiserweight champion was. The bout is the first WBA World title bout in which two defending champions of the same world title belt faced each other. Jones inflicted horrific punishment on Lebedev, inflicting enough damage to Lebedev's right eye to perhaps end his career for medical reasons. Observers felt the bout should have been stopped early, but the Russian Boxing Federation would not stop the bout so it would go the distance, putting Jones in the position of having to knock Lebedev out in hostile territory to keep his title.
In October 2013, Jones was stripped of his title for failing a drug test for his WBA unification fight with Lebedev, with Lebedev being reinstated as full champion. A rematch between Lebedev and Jones has concordantly been ordered by the WBA. Jones again tested positive, and was stripped of the title, however recent allegations of Russian tampering with drug testing has put this finding in doubt. In December 2013, Jones was reinstated by the WBA as Champion in Recess.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
47WinYtalo PereaSD11Nov 18, 2017Renaissance Hotel & Casino, Santo Domingo, Dominican RepublicWon vacant WBA Fedelatin heavyweight title
46Win40–3–2 Garrett Wilson6Jul 2, 2016Teamsters Hall, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
45Win39–3–2 Daniel CotaUD10Nov 20, 2015Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
4438–3–2 Denis LebedevKO11, 1:54May 17, 2013Crocus City Hall, Moscow, RussiaWBA cruiserweight title at stake;
Originally a KO win for Jones, later ruled an NC after he failed a drug test
43Win38–3–2Michael MarroneTKO6, 1:55Nov 5, 2011Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.Retained WBA cruiserweight title
42Win37–3–2Valery BrudovTKO11, 2:16Oct 2, 2010Roberto Durán Arena, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA cruiserweight title
41Win36–3–2Firat ArslanTKO10, 2:33Sep 27, 2008Color Line Arena, Hamburg, GermanyWon WBA cruiserweight title
40Win35–3–2Zack PageUD8Jul 7, 2007The Arena at Harbor Yard, Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
39Win34–3–2Jeremy BatesTKO1, 1:44Jan 6, 2007Hard Rock Live, Hollywood, Florida, U.S.
38Win33–3–2Wayne BraithwaiteTKO4, 2:26Sep 3, 2005Gund Arena, Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.Retained WBA Fedelatin and WBC Latino cruiserweight titles
37Win32–3–2Kelvin DavisTKO4, 0:42May 21, 2005United Center, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
36Loss31–3–2Steve CunninghamSD10Apr 2, 2005DCU Center, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
35Win31–2–2Antonio BerroaKO1, 2:09Dec 3, 2004Figali Convention Center, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA Fedelatin cruiserweight title;
Won vacant WBC Latino cruiserweight title
34Win30–2–2Luciano TorresTKO1, 1:48Mar 16, 2004Atlapa Convention Centre, Panama City, PanamaWon vacant WBA Fedelatin cruiserweight title
33Draw29–2–2Johnny Nelson12Nov 23, 2002Storm Arena, Derby, EnglandFor WBO cruiserweight title
32Win29–2–1Sione AsipeliUD10Jul 13, 2002Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S.
31Win28–2–1Tim WilliamsonSD10Apr 13, 2002Fremont Street Experience, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S.
30Win27–2–1Victor MacielTKO1, 1:21May 19, 2001Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
29Win26–2–1Allen WattsUD10May 20, 2000Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
28Win25–2–1Jaffa BallogouUD6Dec 18, 1999Grand Casino, Tunica, Mississippi, U.S.
27Win24–2–1Jose Maquina RojasTKO2, 2:59Oct 9, 1999Magnum Eventus, Panama City, Panama
26Win23–2–1Santos DanielsTKO6, 1:47Sep 4, 1999Balboa Civic Center, Panama City, Panama
25Loss22–2–1Laurent BoudouaniSD12May 30, 1998Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S.For WBA super welterweight title
24Draw22–1–1Laurent Boudouani12Feb 13, 1998The Pit, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.For WBA super welterweight title
23Win22–1David NoelTKO1, 1:05Nov 29, 1997Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaRetained WBA Fedelatin super welterweight title
22Loss21–1David NoelKO2 Sep 27, 1997Gimnasio José Beracasa, Caracas, VenezuelaRetained WBA Fedelatin super welterweight title
21Win21–0Alejandro UguetoTKO5, 1:42May 3, 1997Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaRetained WBA Fedelatin super welterweight title
20Win20–0Jorge Luis VadoKO1 Feb 28, 1997Colón, Panama
19Win19–0Alejandro Ugueto12Oct 7, 1996Maracay, VenezuelaRetained WBA Fedelatin super welterweight title
18Win18–0Gilberto BarretoKO1, 1:04Jun 15, 1996Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaWon vacant WBA Fedelatin super welterweight title
17Win17–0Eduardo RodriguezKO2, 2:53Apr 20, 1996Hotel Washington, Colón, Panama
16Win16–0Manuel FlorianTKO2 Mar 29, 1996Hipódromo Presidente Remón, Panama City, Panama
15Win15–0Carlos Alberto ArrietaKO1, 2:41Mar 15, 1996Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, PanamaRetained WBA Fedelatin welterweight title
14Win14–0José GarcíaKO1 Feb 2, 1996Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaRetained WBA Fedelatin welterweight title
13Win13–0Manuel AlvarezKO1 Sep 18, 1995Maracay, VenezuelaRetained WBA Fedelatin welterweight title
12Win12–0Ricardo SimarraTKO4, 1:50Aug 5, 1995Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaWon vacant WBA Fedelatin welterweight title
11Win11–0Antonio OcasioKO3, 0:32Jul 15, 1995Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, PanamaWon vacant Panamanian welterweight title
10Win10–0Marcelino QuirozKO2, 2:35Apr 1, 1995Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
9Win9–0Rafael Ortiz1 Feb 4, 1995Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
8Win8–0Felix Jose HernandezTKO2 Oct 15, 1994Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
7Win7–0Jaime MayorgaTKO1, 1:45Sep 3, 1994Colón, PanamaWon vacant WBC FECARBOX welterweight title
6Win6–0Edison MartinezTKO1, 1:49Jun 4, 1994Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
5Win5–0Manuel Alvarez8Feb 5, 1994Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
4Win4–0Ramon BarreraTKO1 Dec 28, 1993Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
3Win3–0Jorge Eliecer OrtizTKO1, 2:18Dec 4, 1993Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama
2Win2–0Manuel Florian4Oct 16, 1993Arena Panama Al Brown, Colón, Panama
1Win1–0Gabriel Camarena1, 1:25Jul 17, 1993Gimnasio Nuevo Panama, Panama City, Panama