Malcolm Jones: I Just Feel It’s My Turn

Malcolm Jones has a record which suggests he’s got skills. His frame suggests the same, and in watching tape of the super middleweight, the impact is similar. Got some skills… Now, the 17-3 hitter out of Indianapolis has a chance to show the wider world of the sport that he’s worthy of a higher spot in the ranks of 168s.

Jones, who we told you about before, meets Immanuel Aleem tonight, in Maryland, no stream. Looks to be a solid one at Maryland Live Casino in Hanover, MD on paper, as Aleem (age 30) owns a 19-3-2 record.

I asked the 31 year old Jones what he’d been doing after his last bout, a KO win in October over Antonio Hernandez.

“Since the fight, I have been getting my life in order to make boxing more of a priority,” said the righty promoted by Reyes Boxing Promotions.

“Boxing has seemed like more of my side gig around my business prior to getting with promoter/trainer Michael Reyes. I now have a strength trainer/nutritionist who has made training for this fight so much better. The weight cut has been easy!

“Also, I have been spending more time with my family. 2023 was a great year. I was alienated from my son for over 2 years, and we were brought back together and have been spending ALOT of time together. That was a big piece missing and a huge battle I was fighting outside the ring starting in 2019. I feel almost complete.”

The fighter deserves a few props, I think, for processing that hard family stuff.

Jones getting it done in October, on RBP card. Photo by Emily Harney

“During the dark period of my life I took a liking to this saying of “All things happen for good.” I'm not going to say I'll do it all, but I will say that doors opened for me when I thought it was the end of the road.”

And his thoughts on Aleem, who has been in with seasoned foes like Demond Nicholson, Hugo Centeno, Matt Korobov and Ronald Ellis.

“I feel like if plan A is unsuccessful, then we will go into a battle of wills. He seems to have heart and brings the fight. He definitely has experience and has been close to reaching a fighters’ dream of becoming a world champion. I just feel that it's my turn,” Jones said. “He had his opportunity, and he came up short, and now it's time for someone else to get that same opportunity he had.”