Welterweight Mike Jones Looks To Bring Boxing Pominence Back To Philly

Added on Oct 18, 2010 by Brian Blake in

Boxing

On November 13, as the world looks on as Manny Pacquiao takes on Antonio Margarito in Texas, the fight fans of Philadelphia will also be paying attention to the latest fighter to come out of the boxing-rich Pennsylvania city when welterweight contender Mike Jones puts his regional titles on the line against the veteran Jesus Soto-Karass.

At the age of 22, Jones turned pro with the help of longtime promoter Russell Peltz. In just under four minutes of actions it was clear to Peltz that he had just found a can’t miss prospect.

“I think Mike is probably the best prospect to come out of Philly since maybe Bernard Hopkins. His management came to me a couple years ago asking to please use Mike Jones on a show, who I had never heard of. I put Mike with a New York Golden Gloves champion named Jason Thompson who was undefeated and after Mike knock him out I was deluged with calls from out of town asking who this kid was. I figured I had something and now he is ranked as high as No. 2 in the world and Top Rank has an entrée with most of the top 147-pounders in the world and it can be a good working relationship,” explained Peltz.

Following his two round domination of Thompson, Jones would build up his win total to 14 while remaining unbeaten leading him to challenge Juliano Ramos for the vacant NABA welterweight title. Jones ended the night early in Philly’s Alhambra Arena as he registered a sixth round TKO over the outclassed Ramos.

After successfully defending his title on three occasions over the next year and a half, Jones needed just five rounds to dispose of Hector Munoz and add the WBO NABO belt to his other regional title.

The fifth round proved to be a charm for him again in his most recent bout against Puerto Rico’s Irving Garcia this past July. The end of the fight came in dramatic and controversial fashion as Jones had Garcia hurt and up against the ropes as Jones unleashed a massive flurry of shots which was capped off by a hellacious low blow that referee Randy Neuman didn’t see. Garcia was subsequently counted out as he hit the canvas after the errant punch to his crotch.

The fight was appealed by Garcia’s team to no avail and Mike Jones’ official record now stands at an impressive 22-0 with 18 of those wins coming by way of knockout.

While Peltz is widely regarded as a great promoter, he turned to his friends over at the Las Vegas based Top Rank Promotions to help take Jones’ career to the next level.

When Russell started telling me about Mike Jones a couple years ago our ears perked up because Russell doesn’t get high on too many guys. We had an opportunity to put Mike on a couple of shows we did in conjunction with Russell this year. He beat Bruseles in a fight I thought gave Mike a lot of experience and a kid in Albuquerque, Hector Muñoz, and he’s fought since and we agree with Russell. He’s got everything it takes. He’s got a great body for a welterweight; very good boxing skills and you can see the improvement in each fight. He could be the face of Philadelphia boxing and we are very thrilled to be involved with him,” stated longtime matchmaker, Bruce Trampler.

Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank added: “Everyone knows about this storm coming out of Philadelphia and we are proud to have him on this card in Cowboys Stadium on November 13.”

In just under five years Jones went from an unknown kid looking to get a fight to becoming a regional title holder and a fresh face for the Philadelphia boxing scene. Now, he looks to elevate his career with a win over Soto-Karass with the rest of the world looking on.

“This fight means everything to me right now. It will be watched by millions of people around the world and I am going to try my best so I can be looked at as one of the best out there. This fight here is not an easy fight. I am fighting a great fighter in Jesus Soto-Karass and this will be one of my greatest days yet,” Jones said of the opportunity.

In regards to the fight game, Philadelphia has seen its share of great days in the careers of hometown legends such as Smokin’ Joe Frazier and more recently with Bernard Hopkins.

Mike Jones now has the chance to give Philadelphian’s plenty more of great days in the squared circle, starting with Soto-Karass.

“I definitely am going want to win this fight, no respect to Soto-Karass. But I come to win this fight and after that maybe I can get a piece of a title,” he states.

Jones is looking at a title as a possibility, Philadelphian’s are beginning to look at it as a certaintly.