By Jake Donovan (photo © Steve Samoyedny/fightwireimages)

There’s no better time to make a statement than on the eve of boxing’s biggest night of 2008. It was mission accomplished and then some for undefeated welterweight prospect Mike “MJ” Jones, who had his way with Luciano Perez before scoring a highlight-reel third round knockout in the evening’s Telefutura-televised main event.

The bout topped a card airing live from the Sovereign Arts Center in Reading, Pennsylvania.

It was clear from the start that Perez’ entire game plan comprised of applying constant pressure to the taller and leaner Jones, hoping to force the Philly phenom into a defensive shell. He enjoyed mild success, but only in a short term capacity. Any effectiveness he enjoyed came in rule-breaking fashion, with Jones repeatedly complaining of rabbit punching, enough to draw a warning from referee Gary Rosato.

Jones took control in the second round, repeatedly scoring with the jab and his left hook while maintaining a tight defensive guard. The round also produced some plasma, with a cut high atop Perez’ forehead pouring down and affecting the Mexican banger. Consecutive left uppercuts had Perez buzzed late in the round, leading to repeated clinching as well as another warning from the referee, this time for hitting on the break.

Some terrific two-way exchanges took place in a third round that is certain to resurface come year-end awards time. Jones was surprisingly rocked by the onrushing Perez, to where he was forced to clinch until he could clear his head.

If nothing else, the sequence showed Jones’ superior recuperative ability. Seconds later, he was trading with Perez, willing to take the fight to him at a time most others would’ve opted to box. The calculated risk reaped major dividends – it was left hook city, with Jones landing three upstairs, the last one followed by a straight right to produce the bout’s first knockdown.

Perez took the count and was willing to come back for more; Jones was more than willing to oblige.. A fusillade of shots had Perez pinned on the ropes until a monster left hook nearly decapitated him as he crumpled to the canvas. The count was once again on; Perez was up in time to stop it at eight, but his dead-man walking response was enough to convince referee Gary Rosato to call it an evening.

The official time was 1:56 of round three.

Jones ends his 2008 campaign with a bang, scoring his second straight knockout and his fourth win of the year as he improves to 16-0 (14KO). Even with televised boxing dates dwindling down, expect to see a lot more of the Philly boxer-puncher in 2009 and beyond.

The same cannot be said of Luciano Perez, who sinks to 16-9-1 (14KO), with eight of his losses coming in his past 12 fights.

Undefeated junior welterweight prospect Rock Allen made up for lost time in posting his second televised win in less than three months. His co-feature bout with Humberto Tapia went the same way as his televised co-feature with Gilbert Vera in September – with the 2004 Olympian dominating every second en route to an eight round shutout.

Unlike the Vera fight, this one came with a far greater business-like approach. Allen did enough to mark up Tapia, leaving the Mexican journeyman with a shiner under his right eye, but never enough to prevent the bout from going the full eight.

Scores were 80-72 across the board.

Allen moves to 14-0 (7KO). A frustrating 2008 that didn’t see his first fight until September ends on a positive note, scoring back to back shutouts in a span of 11 weeks.

Tapia continues to creep toward .500, losing his third straight as he falls to 13-9-1 (7KO).

With plenty of time to kill following the brief main event, undefeated Jason Cintron enjoyed some unexpected television time. The Reading-based prospect made the most of the opportunity, scoring two knockdowns en route to knocking out – and do we mean OUT – Puerto Rican southpaw Pascali Adorno in their lightweight swing bout.

Unlike older brother Kermit, Jason isn’t generally known for his punching power. What a difference a couple of well-placed right hands can make, producing both knockdowns. The first came late in the opening round, with a slick shot to the temple momentarily froze Adorno before nearly falling through the ropes in a failed attempt to fight off the delayed reaction.

The second round suggested perhaps a return to boxing, with both boxers posing and shadow boxing in the early portions. That was before Cintron uncorked a beauty of a straight right that brought the night to a sudden and dramatic ending. Adorno tried desperately to peel himself off of the canvas, but could do no better than perform a couple of modified crunches as his legs simply wouldn’t cooperate. His corner wisely picked up that their fighter was done, instantly coming into the ring to tend to the fallen Boricua.

The official time was 0:34 of round two.

Cintron moves to 10-0 (3KO) with the win, his third of 2008; Adorno falls to 10-8-3 (4KO), now winless in his last four over a stretch of more than two years.

Tonight’s show was presented by Peltz Boxing and Golden Boy Promotions.

Jake Donovan is a voting member of the Boxing Writers Association of America. Comments/questions can be submitted to JakeNDaBox@gmail.com .