By Dan Ambrose: Unbeaten welterweight contender Mike Jones (23-0, 18 KO’s) was supposed to be someone that could eventually compete with the top welterweights in the division and soon become one of the welterweight champions. However, the 27-year-old Jones was badly exposed in a fight with fringe welterweight contender Jesus Soto-Karass last November, winning by a controversial 10 round majority decision but looking absolutely horrible after gassing out early in the fight.
Jones is incredibly lucky to have got the win, because he appeared to lose the fight in the minds of many boxing fans, including this writer. Jones looked like a body builder out of his element in the ring with the tough Soto-Karass. Jones will now get a second shot against Soto-Karass on the undercard of the Fernando Montiel vs. Nonito Donaire fight at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada, on February 19th.
Jones’ promoter Bob Arum is hoping that Jones can convincingly beat Soto-Karass this time and then prove himself in the process that he is a potential candidate to face and beat WBC welterweight champion Andre Berto. I think Arum might be kidding himself if he thinks Jones will ever beat someone like Berto.
Although Berto is badly flawed, Jones is even worse. He’s slow, lacks flexibility and doesn’t have much stamina or boxing skills. He’s good contender but hard to see Jones as a champion caliber fighter. Jones is incredibly lucky to have received the gift decision over Soto-Karass.
The close win really tells you all you need to know about Jones. He has a lot of limitations, and barely beating Soto-Karass might be about all Jones can do. I can’t see him getting much better, and I can’t see him ever beating someone like Berto unless it’s one of those gift decisions, like the one that Jones got over Soto-Karass.
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