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Jones dethrones Prince

Roy Jones Jr., left, controlled the fight against Prince Badi Ajamu in Boise, winning for the first time in four fights. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
Roy Jones Jr., left, controlled the fight against Prince Badi Ajamu in Boise, winning for the first time in four fights. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

BOISE — A playful, far-fresher Roy Jones Jr. frustrated tired champion Prince Badi Ajamu to win the NABO light heavyweight title Saturday night.

All three judges scored the fight 119-106 for Jones.

Announced as “arguably the greatest pound-for-pound fighter in boxing history” before his first fight in 10 months, Jones (50-4) was merely the greater fighter in the Qwest Arena ring to win his sixth belt in four different weight classes.

He withstood Ajamu’s immediate, wild flurry that began the fight and controlled the final 11 rounds – with repeated body shots early and head blows late – for his first win in four bouts.

The NABO belt is lightly regarded. But after three straight defeats, two by knockout, and the long hiatus, Jones was glad to take it and presumably move on to at least one more fight.

Ajamu (25-3-2) lost three points for repeated low blows and tired noticeably beginning in the fifth round.

Spokane’s Munsen falls

On the undercard, William Guthrie of Palm Beach, Fla., stopped Luke Munsen of Spokane with a technical knockout in the fifth round to win the vacant IBF International Cruiserweight title

And 41-year-old cruiserweight Arthur Williams (43-14-1) stopped Kenny Keene (51-4) of Emmett, Idaho, with a 10th round TKO. Keene, 38, said after the fight he would retire.

Guthrie (34-3-2), of Palm Beach, Fla., hurt Munsen at one minute, 50 seconds into the fourth round with a straight right hand. With 27 seconds left in the round, Guthrie stunned Munsen with another straight right hand.

Guthrie began the fifth round with a combination of punches to Munsen’s head, knocking Munsen to the canvas on one knee 54 seconds into the round. Munsen got up at the count of five but Guthrie quickly moved in and landed a combination of punches, and referee Tony Weeks stopped the fight with 1:31 remaining in the round.

Munsen (19-6) said he could have continued.

“It wasn’t my night,” said Munsen, 25. “He’s a good fighter. I thought I could handle him. I thought it was an early stoppage. I didn’t think he hit all that hard, but I didn’t prepare myself well enough.”