If you look at it one way, welterweight contender Mike Jones’ return to the Asylum Arena (formerly the New Alhambra) in South Philadelphia is a bit like the Phillies’ Chase Utley accepting a rehab assignment with the Lakewood BlueClaws.
But just as a rusty Utley might need a few games against, say, the Delmarva Shorebirds to hone his batting stroke before jumping back into the big club’s lineup against the Atlanta Braves, Jones (24-0, 18 KOs) needs a keep-busy kind of fight like the one against Raul Munoz (22-13-1, 16 KOs), whom he’ll face in tomorrow night’s scheduled 10-round main event.
The bout will be televised by Comcast SportsNet Espanol.
“At first, I was a little disappointed. After being on HBO twice, I guess I expected to be on a third time,” Jones, the North Philadelphian who fought 11 times at the New Alhambra/Arena as he built his national reputation, said of his return to the 1,100-seat facility, which is far removed, in more ways than one, from his two most recent ring appearances: Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and Las Vegas’ Mandalay Bay.
In addition to being carried by HBO, those bouts were against a rugged customer named Jesus Soto-Karass, who went a combined 22 rounds against Jones, losing respective majority and unanimous decisions. And why not? Now 24-6-3, Soto-Karass has never been stopped as a professional.
While Munoz certainly will be in there throwing leather, bidding for the upset, the journeyman welterweight from Topeka, Kan., has an exploitable weakness that Soto-Karass has yet to demonstrate: He has lost inside the distance nine times overall and six times in his last 18 bouts, over which he is 6-11-1. If Jones nails Munoz with a few of the heavier shots he landed against Soto-Karass, it could make for a short night.
And that’s all right with Team Jones – local promoters J Russell Peltz and Joe Hand Sr., co-managers Doc Nowicki and Jim Williams, and trainer Vaughn Jackson – who view the proceedings as sort of a necessary evil for a fighter on the cusp of a major breakthrough.
“I told Mike, ‘You don’t have to take this fight. You can stay off, but I don’t recommend it. You’re better off when you’re staying busy,’ ” Nowicki said. “He knows that’s true. He said, ‘OK, I’ll do it.’ “
The longest period Jones, 28, has been off since turning pro in December 2005 is nearly 5 months. A relatively high-visibility bout on HBO that was tentatively set for May 28 fell through, and another slot on HBO, Sept. 10 in Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall against an opponent to be named, has yet to be finalized.
“It looks like [WBA featherweight champion Yuriorkis] Gamboa on top, with Mike in the co-feature,” Nowicki said of the September bout. “But Feb. 19 to September was too long for Mike to be off. Not that there would be too much of a buildup of ring rust, but I know Mike Jones. He wants to stay busy.”
Jones is ranked No. 1 by the WBO, No. 2 by the WBA, No. 3 by the IBF and No. 5 by the WBC. Top Rank founder Bob Arum, whose stable includes WBO welterweight champ Manny Pacquiao, also has a promotional interest in Jones, and it’s logical that he could be positioning Jones for a huge money fight with the Filipino superstar down the road – provided Jones keeps winning and raising his profile.
Jones is, or soon might be, the most visible Philadelphia fighter not named Bernard Hopkins. The 46-year-old B-Hop, whose defeat of Jean Pascal last month made him the oldest fighter ever to win a widely recognized world title, trains at the Joe Hand Boxing Gym in Northern Liberties, as does Jones, and both employ Danny Davis as their strength-and-conditioning coach.
“Anytime I’ve ever spoken to Bernard Hopkins, he’s told me something useful I can apply to my career and my life,” Jones said. “He’s a very wise person and a very crafty boxer.”
There is one other thing Jones would like to replicate about Hopkins, who once simultaneously held the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO middleweight titles.
“I see myself as the unified welterweight champion and the best boxer in the world, pound-for-pound,” Jones said. “That’s my dream. I want to be great.” *
