Amari Jones vs DeAundre Pettus

I see this as a fight Jones should win, but Pettus is capable of making him earn it. He gave Jordan Panthen an uncomfortable evening with his jab and steady aggression. Treat him like somebody who’s only there to get beaten and you invite trouble.

Jones has the sharper combinations and more variety. Against Vincenzo Gualtieri, he used the jab to create openings, changed stance and mixed his attacks to head and body. That matters here because Pettus can be stubborn when an opponent keeps serving him the same punch.

Pettus needs to interrupt Jones with the jab and make him reset before those combinations develop. His problem is that he can keep competing without winning enough exchanges. Jones should punish him whenever he stays in range after punching.

I want Jones patient early. His recent quick finishes haven’t answered every question about his engine, so chasing a stoppage would be daft. Establish the jab, work downstairs and build the pressure.

Pettus will resist, but I’m picking Jones by stoppage in the second half.