Boxing: Jones sorry for quick KO

ROY JONES JR celebrated his 30th birthday a week early by knocking out Rick Frazier, a 39-year-old New York police officer, in the second round of their world light-heavyweight title fight in Pensacola, Florida, but afterwards apologised to his home supporters for failing to entertain them longer.

Jones, who retained the World Boxing Council and World Boxing Association titles, said: "It wasn't very satisfying. I'm sorry the fight got stopped early."

Frazier, a law enforcement officer for 17 years, went into the fight as the WBC's No 1 contender despite only an 18-3-1 record with seven knockouts. He simply was no match for Jones. A statistical breakdown showed the one- sided nature of the contest, with the younger man landing 39 of 92 punches and Frazier making only four of 29.

Jones was obliged to fight Frazier because it was a mandatory defence and Frazier was the No 1 contender. Had Jones refused to go through with the fight, he would have been stripped of the WBC title.

"I don't pick the guys," Jones said. "He was the No 1 contender. It's not my job to tell those people what to do."

In another title bout on the same bill, Shane Mosley knocked down Golden Johnson four times in a successful defence of his International Boxing Federation lightweight title.

Mosley dominated Johnson from the outset, and the end came in the dying seconds of the seventh round. A left hook to Johnson's body sealed victory for Mosley, who has now succeeded in defending his title on seven occasions.