27 years ago
Laurent Boudouani vs Guillermo Jones
Date: 13th February 1998
Venue: University Arena, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Title: WBA World Super Welterweight Title
Promoter: Don King Productions
Referee: Al Martinez
Tv: Showtime Championship Boxing & Canal+
Laurent Boudouani
(
36
-
2
-
0
)
Weight: 153¾ lbs
Guillermo Jones
(
22
-
1
-
0
)
Weight: 153 lbs
On February 13, 1998, the University Arena in Albuquerque, New Mexico, hosted the WBA World Super Welterweight title bout between Laurent Boudouani and Guillermo Jones. Promoted by Don King Productions, this fight was broadcast on Showtime Championship Boxing and Canal+. Boudouani, a seasoned French boxer with a record of 36 wins and 2 losses, stepped into the ring against the younger Panamanian challenger, Guillermo Jones, who boasted 22 victories and a single defeat.
Laurent Boudouani was the reigning champion at the time. He had won the WBA Super Welterweight title from Julio César Vásquez with a fifth-round knockout. He defended it once against Carl Daniels through a unanimous decision victory in Las Vegas. On the other hand, Guillermo Jones was a rising star in the boxing world, having won his first 21 fights before suffering a loss to David Noel in 1997. Jones had avenged that loss just a couple of months prior to facing Boudouani.
The fight was closely contested, with both fighters giving their all over 12 rounds. Ultimately, the bout ended in a draw, with the judges' scores reflecting the tight nature of the contest. The decision was reached via a majority draw, with judges, Jesus Cova and Bernie Soto both scoring 114-114, while Neffie Quintana made it 115-114 in Jones's favour.
The draw set the stage for a rematch, which took place on May 30, 1998, at the Las Vegas Hilton. In this second encounter, Boudouani managed to secure a split decision victory, retaining his title. The judges' scores for the rematch were 115-113 for Boudouani, 115-113 for Jones, and 116-112 for Boudouani, highlighting the competitive nature of their rivalry. Guillermo Jones would later go on to achieve significant success in the cruiserweight division, winning the WBA Cruiserweight title in 2008.