The 24-year-old, who lost for the first time in his career last Friday when he was outpointed by Namibian hardman Ali Nuumembe, was beaten on the undercard of the Nigel Wright championship show at Doncaster Dome by Manchester's Matthew Hatton.
Jones, once again, battled bravely, but was retired by his corner after the sixth round of what proved a punishing light-middleweight bout.
Jones and coach Neil Fannan had accepted the challenge to fight the younger brother of WBU world light-welterweight champion Ricky in the hope of bouncing back from the first pro defeat by taking the scalp of Hatton.
Hatton and Jones had met before, at Manchester in December 2003, when the Rat was unlucky not to be given the verdict and instead had to settle for a share of the spoils.
However, despite a promising first round, the former Hartlepool Youth Team footballer was forced to give second best.
Jones is a talented, quick boxer, who can move well, but he simply could not get going against Hatton who, when the pair were not involved in spells of holding, beat him to the punch.
There was none of the usual zip from Jones whose efforts looked weary against a boxer, who looked very fresh.
In the sixth, Hatton landed a sweet shot and the Rat, falling forwards, grabbed onto the Central Area light-middleweight champion round his midrift to save him from going down onto the canvas.
Welfare
Referee Steve Gray did give him a standing eight count and Jones made it through to the end of the round.
However, it was at this point that Fannan instructed Mr Gray that he was retiring Jones.
Not surprisingly, Jones was upset – no fighters like being stopped in that way and while he would have gone on courageously, he was not going to win the contest.
Credit must go to Fannan – and manager Michael Marsden – for taking that decision for the welfare of their fighter and friend. It is better to lose in such a manner than risk a brave but more harmful defeat. "It was a bit of a gamble, which unfortunately didn't come off," said an honest Fannan.
"In the first round he did all right and usually when you start off well and settle early then you have a good night.
"But from the second, Francis seemed to deteriorate while Hatton slipped into gear.
"He just didn't have an answer to Matthew and after the fifth I said I'd give him one more round.
"Francis was doing all right in the sixth and then he got caught on the chin and I'd made up my mind before he even got back to the corner.
"He complained, as I'd expect one of my fighters to, but he was getting hit more than I'd have liked.
"But Francis will be back, I have no doubt about that. I have always had high hopes for him and I have not changed my view.
"No-one likes losing – I hate it. But there are highs and lows in this game and you have got to take the lows as well as enjoying the highs.
"Francis will return with a win and get back to the form we know he's capable of producing."