By Sean McDaniel: Unbeaten Mike Jones (26-0, 19 KO’s) and Randall Bailey (42-7, 36 KO’s) will battle over the vacant IBF welterweight title tonight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Bailey, 37, will be testing his huge power against the big size of the 6-foot Top Rank Promoted 29-year-old Jones.

Jones can punch too, but he’s turned into more of a runner ever since winning a questionable decision over Jesus Soto-Karass in November 2010. Jones has since tinkered with his fighting style and now uses his feet more rather than standing and trading shots. It’s a style that works for him, because he doesn’t have great stamina, huge power or big speed. What Jones does have is good feet and big size.

Bailey will be looking to tear Jones’ head off tonight because that’s really his best chance of winning this fight. Bailey can’t get into a boxing match with the taller Jones and expect to win, because that’s probably not going to happen.

Jones is being groomed by his promoter Bob Arum for a big money Top Rank in house fight against WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao if both fighters win on Saturday night. Arum has already said that if Pacquiao gets past Tim Bradley and Jones beats Bailey on Saturday, he might opt to match the winners against each other in their next fight.

Jones will have added pressure to not only win tonight but also to look good in doing so. He can’t have another disappointing performance like he had in his last fight against Sebastian Lujan last December. Jones has got to be more aggressive and he’s got to be able to close the show if he gets Bailey in trouble.