K.J. Noons Drops Unanimous Decision in Boxing Return

by Chris Nelson on Mar 23, 2009 8:45 AM EDT in News Comment 37 comments

1125_medium In getting-what-you-asked-for news, former EliteXC Lightweight Champion K.J. Noons (8-2) dropped a six-round unanimous decision to tough Detroit middleweight James Countryman (14-1) in Cincinnati, OH.

MMA Junkie reports:

The well-matched fight proved one of the top bouts from the six-fight card, though Noons suffered losing scores of losing scores of 59-55, 58-56 and 58-56 while snapping a four-fight win streak.

The bout was Noons' first boxing match since his unanimous-decision win over Alejandro Bogarin (8-7-3) in November.

. . .

If medically cleared, Noons is expected to box Matt Vanda (39-9) on April 18 in Minneapolis.

Noons and manager Mark Dion had been searching for a step up in boxing competition for the Hawaiian and they've certainly found it in Countryman and Vanda, whose combined record now stands at 53-10. The combined records of the eight boxers whom Noons has defeated? 24-34-3.

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It least it wasn’t to a can, but I honestly hope he loses his next one and comes back to MMA. I don’t even care if one of the little orgs makes a pile putting him against Diaz – make it so already.

by subo on Mar 22, 2009 3:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

If nothing else, lasting six rounds with Countryman proves that Noons has a better chin than I previously gave him credit for. At the same time, if he loses to both Countryman and Vanda, he may as well hang ‘em up and come back to MMA, ’cause having an 8-3 record in boxing is way worse than having an 8-3 record in MMA, and he’s stated that his goal is to be a boxing champion.

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Mar 22, 2009 3:37 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I checked his boxrec

Countryman seems to be a little featherfisted. There are plenty of guys on that list of victories that have losing records that he took to decision in 4 and 6 round fights.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 22, 2009 7:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Interesting. We’ll see how his chin holds up against Vanda, I suppose.

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Mar 22, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

cause having an 8-3 record in boxing is way worse than having an 8-3 record in MMA

Why is this? If boxers fight more often, then wouldn’t each loss have less of an impact?

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Mar 22, 2009 8:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Brent or SC could answer this better than me, but basically it seems like being undefeated (or having at most 4-5 L’s on your record) is a prerequisite for being considered a true prospect or contender. Noons has said he wants to be a champ in boxing and MMA simultaneously, but from my small base of boxing knowledge, starting 8-1 against scrubs and then losing to the first decent guy you face is not a good portent.

Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com

by Chris Nelson on Mar 22, 2009 8:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

In almost all cases this is true

Though if the losses come early in the career it sometimes is overlooked. Glen Johnson being an example of a guy that found his form later in life. Boxing is a sport where guys have been cultivated through the amateur ranks and generally talent is proven before they ever even step into a pro fight. If a guy has 4 losses in his first 15 fights he’s probably never going to be anybody as the level of competition in boxing is way deeper at this point than MMA. Like I said though… this CAN be overcome.

However, what’s even worse is if a guy runs off 15 wins against complete jobbers and as soon as he steps up against competition he starts getting drilled. Then you know he’s never going to be anything but a stepping stone for other fighters. This would be most of the boxers that switched over to MMA such as Marcus Davis.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 22, 2009 8:32 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The best fighters make bigger money. Big money fights big money. If you’re a local or prelim fighter and you’re good enough to eventually see big money on a national scale, you should have a nearly spotless record (not to mention how management really effects fight selection). Upsets in boxing, where it concerns big favorites on local or preliminary scales, is relatively rare.

"I hit [Evensen], and you could just see it in his head. He went, 'Oh, man. We don't have to do this anymore. I'm good. Thanks for having me. I'm going to go home now." -Pat "The Real Techno Viking" Berry

by Blackout612 on Mar 22, 2009 8:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Usually in your first few fights as a boxer you are facing tomato cans and ham and eggers.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Mar 22, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Look out when this guy returns to MMA. This will benefit his standup game a lot.

by Bandaka on Mar 22, 2009 4:28 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

don’t know much about Noons but I know Vanda who can hit a little bit. That will test Noons chin more so than the other guys on that list. Vanda doesn’t have much technical boxing ability, but he’s willing to bang and take some punishment to do so.

by lcollins1 on Mar 22, 2009 4:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Vanda's going to knock him out

And I’ll be there to see it.

by Blackout612 on Mar 22, 2009 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I knew I recognized the name

Vanda’s got a good beard on him that Noons won’t put a dent in… But he’s easily outpointed by a skilled boxer. We’ll see where Noons stands after this fight.

Vanda is the definition of a gatekeeper. I saw him against JCC Jr and against Duddy. He got worked badly by both.

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 22, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I wouldn’t put Noons, as a boxer, in the same category as Duddy and JCC. Vanda’s technical skills don’t hold up well against the most elite level of competitors, because he can get pretty wild. But he’ll pound out a guy like KJ. Not hating on KJ, but he belongs in an MMA ring… and I know Vanda, so call me biased if you must.

by Blackout612 on Mar 22, 2009 8:06 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Neither would I

I don’t see where I ever put them in the same universe. I just said I saw Vanda fight against JCC Jr and I’m pretty sure I saw the Duddy fight also

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 22, 2009 8:35 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Ok I reread my statement and I can see where you're coming from

I should have put. “We’ll see where KJ stands in boxing when he’s laying flat on his back against a skilled journeyman”

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 22, 2009 8:36 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

If I knew about KJ fighting in Cincinnati I would of went there and would of let you all know what happened, but thankfully for the blog site MMA Junkie had our backs there.

by "Mr. NC-17" on Mar 22, 2009 4:56 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Vanda will KO him...

I’ve been saying for quite some time that at best Noons as a boxer is the guy who gets beat by a prospect on the opener of a Friday Night Fights card. In MMA he can be a force.

Contributing Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Mar 22, 2009 5:21 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t understand Noons’ mentality in facing Vanda. To win that fight, Noons probably needs to outbox Vanda. Even if he does that, Noons is still primarily an MMA fighter right? How will either getting KO’d by Vanda or sticking to a long-jab, point-scoring style help him as an MMA fighter?

by lcollins1 on Mar 22, 2009 6:22 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Go to Strikeforce and take your beating from Nick Diaz already

by EazyEismydad on Mar 22, 2009 6:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

That was what was supposed to happen the first time

;). Granted the stoppage sucked by it’s not like Noons lost the 1st round.

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by achengy on Mar 22, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Given the location of the cuts and the amount of blood in his eyes, it was erring on the side of caution – fighters’ safety, etc.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Mar 22, 2009 6:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thank you for the photo

Nick got his fuckin ass beat

don’t rewrite history

Gimme 1 round!

by ItBurnzWhenIP on Mar 22, 2009 7:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs

^ this

by subo on Mar 22, 2009 8:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Nick lost that round and did get cut bad. He was sluggish during his comeback with Elite XC after his layoff no doubt. However, he has looked solid again lately. There is no doubt the best Nick Diaz beats the best KJ Noons. Also since then he has gotten surgery to fix the scar tissue that kept getting cut so hopefully that won’t happen again

by EazyEismydad on Mar 23, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Also Diaz said in an interview he was frustrated by the lower level of his competition at first with Elite XC. You can be sure he will be heavily motivated if he fights KJ again

by EazyEismydad on Mar 23, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is no doubt the best Nick Diaz beats the best KJ Noons.

You know this how?

by Tonley on Mar 23, 2009 3:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Its confident speculation. He has fought a lot of top guys and done well even in his losses. KJ has had 3 legit fights. He lost to Charles Bennett, and he quickly got stoppages in his other two. I wouldn’t count on him to be able to get first round KOs and Dr stoppages in every fight

by EazyEismydad on Mar 23, 2009 4:59 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don't understand.....

Boxers who lose fights quickly become low paid nobodies. Noons needs to get his shit together, tighten up his MMA game and get paid that way.

by Dexerion on Mar 22, 2009 7:47 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I assume he knows what to do to get the better pay already. That may not please us MMA fans, but there is still more money in boxing, assuming he is successful enough.

by spectaa on Mar 22, 2009 7:55 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

There is more money for the very few at the top. Noons has an infinitesimal chance of being those few.

A man should never waste an opportunity to keep his mouth shut.

by iiowyn on Mar 22, 2009 8:04 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

KJ will never be an elite boxer. He’s already an elite MMA LW.

Boxing is dying. MMA is exploding.

Why Noons ever decided to make the switch is beyond me, he’ll never make more money boxing than he does in MMA.

He’s still young, though. If he goes back to where he belongs (Strikeforce, UFC, Dream/ WVR, etc.), he could potentially be a world beater.

Supporting all Las Vegas MMA.

'09 is the year of the FW's.

by ElliotMatheny on Mar 22, 2009 9:37 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

He wanted to be a two sport athlete. Fedor competes in Sambo. Mousasi and Ishida just did kickboxing matches. Boxing is big in the US, like those sports are big in their athletes home countries

by EazyEismydad on Mar 23, 2009 1:26 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Vanda is no joke. He is a legit fighter. I don’t know why he is thinking about fighting someone legit.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Mar 22, 2009 10:48 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

By the way… is there a MMA website like boxrec for MMA fighters?

Boxrec is like a godsend for the sport.

It is like basketballreference.com or baseballreference.com.

"Boxing is dirty," said Casamayor. " The day I’m not ready to be a dirty fighter is the day I don’t fight anymore because it will mean that I have no heart for it anymore."

by Zocalo on Mar 22, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs