Nov. 14, 1998
On a big card in Mashantuckett, Connecticut. Roy Jones, Jr and "Sugar" Shane Mosley kept their world championship belts and pound-for-pound credentials with lopsided victories over courageous but overmatched opponents. Mosley won his half of the bill when he dominated seemingly-rejuvenated Jesse James Leija to a brutal 9th Round TKO. Leija imposed his will on the supreme IBF Lightweight Champion, but that was not enough to overcome Mosley's fierce fighting style.

Shane floored the challenger 3 times and battered Leija with body shots until the relentless attack forced Leija to surrender as the 10th Round was about to begin. Though Leija tried and tried, he could not gain any offense against Mosley. With the win, Mosley improved to 30-0 with his 28th win by the knockout route. Mosley made his sixth title defense and his fifth fight this year. Leija dropped to 37-4-2, eliminating his 7-fight win streak with this lopsided contest.

In the main event, Roy Jones retained his portion of the Light Heavyweight crown with a one-sided TKO over WBO Middleweight Champion Otis Grant. Grant, moving up to 175 pounds for this fight, tried to overcome this uphill battle. His will would not give, but Jones' overwhelming power was enough to convince Russ Anber to throw in the towel on Grant's behalf at 1:18 of the tenth stanza.

Jones, who retained his WBC & WBA Championships tonight, staggered the overmatched Grant in Round 4. He began to dominate to the point where he downed Otis in Round 6. Anber told Grant between rounds if he went down again that he would stop the fight, and he lived up to the promise.

Jones did nothing in Round 7, standing back with his hands down. But Grant was too isolated to capitalize. Instead he picked his shots one at a time which ultimately caused his demise in this matchup. Grant briefly got into the match in Round 9 but still he could not overcome Jones' incredible power and inexplicable talent. In Round 10, Jones caught Grant flush on the chin with a right hand. Moments later, the Grant towel was tossed and Jones kept his belts.

With the victory, Jones made his pro ledger an impressive 38-1 with 32 knockouts. With his third fight this year. Grant slid to 31-2-1, losing for the first time since a 1994 12th Round KO to Quincy Taylor. The point probably is to these fights is not to go head-on with a guy who can knock your block off, which was the mistake both Leija and Grant made tonight. Good fights, good night.

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