Undefeated Heavyweight Justin Jones Working Hard in Big Bear with IBF Cruiserweight Champ Murat Gassiev

Undefeated Houston-based heavyweight contender Justin “Jawbreaker” Jones says he’s had his eyes opened to what it takes to be successful at the top of the boxing world.

For the past month, Jones (22-0-2, 12 KOs) has been in camp in Big Bear, California, with IBF Cruiserweight Champ Murat Gassiev, and his trainer Abel Sanchez, helping him prepare for his October 21 defense against former champion Krzysztof Wlodarczyk. Gassiev and Wlodarczyk will meet at the Prudential Centerin Newark, New Jersey, as part of the WBSS (World Boxing Super Series) Cruiserweight Tournament.

“Camp is going great. I’m learning a lot of things,” said Jones. “The most important thing I’m learning is that the conditioning these guys do is unreal. I’ve never seen a guy train this much. These guys are in tremendous shape. The training routines they do are unbelievable. I’m in the shape of my life. In the past, I wasn’t doing anything close to what they are doing in training. Now that I’m adding it to my training, it’ll make me a different fighter. I won’t be pacing myself. I can just go get it.”

Justin Jones with noted trainer Abel Sanchez at Big Bear, California.

Jones says he’s thankful that sparring with top-level fighters like Gassiev has brought to light his weak spots.

“Sparring with Murat is helping me dissect my style,” he explained. “The guys I was sparring with before, I could normally get away with a lot of bad habits. You can’t do that with these guys. If I move a certain way or bend a certain way, I’m getting hit, so I’m evaluating my style and perfecting it.”

According to Jones, world-renowned trainer Abel Sanchez is also proving beneficial.

“He’s (Sanchez) helping me out. Obviously, his focus is Murat, but he tells me things to help me about balance and how to punch. They focus a lot on power punches here. Solid punches every shot. I see a lot of flaws in my own punching ability through them and I love improvement, so every chance I get I’m asking them questions.”

Jones adds that he’s very impressed with Gassiev’s abilities and predicts big things for him.

“He’s definitely a power puncher. He hits like a heavyweight to the body and head. He stalks and hunts and figures you out. He’s kind of like GGG. He pressures you, but he stays strong the whole fight. His conditioning is so good he doesn’t wear down.”

With the momentum of world-class training in Big Bear, and promotional firm Warriors Boxing in his corner, Jones says he’s looking to challenge somebody in the top 15 this year. “I’m so eager to get back in the ring against a top guy to see how I’ve improved. I could see it in sparring and in my body, but I want to see it in a big fight.”