Ben Jones looks forward to big paydays as he contests WBO title

The 33-year-old from Crawley meets Martin Parlagi for the vacant WBO Inter-continental featherweight title at The Troxy in London on Friday, October 30.

The winner of the 10-round fight - to be screened on London Live - will earn a top-15 ranking with the WBO.

Jones, who’s had four wins this year to set up this month’s title fight, said: “I’ve been trying to get back to where I was when I held the WBO European title.

“Winning this title will get me into the top 15 with the WBO and when you’re there, that’s when you get the big fights and the big paydays.

“I’ve just got to win this fight and then i will leave it up to my management to decide what the next step is.”

Jones, co-managed by Mickey Helliet and Kaz Evans, has done his homework on this month’s opponent.

Parlagi is a 27-year-old from the Czech Republic and his only defeat in 17 fights came when he met Marco McCullough for the vacant WBO European featherweight title last June.

Both fighters were on the floor in a good fight that the Belfastman won unanimously on points.

Jones said: “I watched that fight and Parlagi had McCullough in a lot of trouble.

“He’s a handful. It was a tough, close fight.

“It looks like he likes to overpower his opponents with his strength and workrate, but that won’t be happening on October 30.

“I’m a big, solid featherweight and I won’t be going backwards, I’ll be coming forwards, looking to land big shots!

“I’m really looking forward to it and a lot of people are getting behind me. There’s been lots of interest in tickets.”

Jones is always well supported and his fans have seen him win English, IBO International and WBO European honours in his 25-fight career.

Beating Parlagi would take him nearer than he has ever been to a crack at WBO featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko.

The Ukrainian, beaten just once in 397 amateur bouts, won the world title in just his third fight, equalling the record set by Saensak Muangsurin in 1975.

Tickets for the show at The Troxy are available from 07720 045566.

Don’t miss out on all the latest breaking news where you live.

Here are four ways you can be sure you’ll be amongst the first to know what’s going on.

1 Make this website your homepage

2 Like our Facebook page at facebook.com/pages/Sport-Sussex

3 Follow us on Twitter @SportSussex

4 Register with us by clicking on ‘sign in’ (top right corner). You can then receive our daily newsletter AND add your point of view to stories that you read here.

And do share with your family and friends - so they don’t miss out!