Mike Jones is moving up!

Story by Rick Scharmberg

Mike Jones, an up and coming welterweight from the Mt. Airy section of Philadelphia, Pa., fights for his first belt this Friday night at the New Alhambra in Philly. Jones (14-0, 12 KOs) will face Juliano Ramos (15-1, 12 KOs), of Sao Paolo, Brazil in the 10-round main event. At stake will be the vacant NABA welterweight title. The title fight, along with the co-feature, Latif Mundy (8-0, 3 KOs) taking on tough former Contender star Rudy Cisneros (11-1, 10 KOs), of Chicago, in an eight-round junior middleweight contest, will be televised live on Telefutura.

“I want to make the step up,” said Jones. “I am getting to a level where the competition is fiercer. I am ready for it and I am training as hard as I can.”

Is Jones a future world champion?

Those who should know, including his hall-of-fame promoter Russell Peltz, believe he is.

“I think offensively he is world championship material,” says Peltz. “I have no doubt he can go to the top. The only negative, and I haven’t seen it with my own eyes, is they say he was stopped in one of his amateur fights. If his chin holds up, he is going all the way. He can hook off the jab, he works the body, and he is a good finisher. He has all the tools.”

That is high praise from a man who has studied and promoted some of the best fighters in the world for two generations.

Jones, 25, started boxing at age 14, when his father took him to Joe Frazier’s Gym in North Philadelphia. He remained there until he was 22, and compiled an impressive amateur record of 60-6 before turning pro on December 15, 2005.

Fighting, on the average, every two months, Jones quickly racked up 11 knockouts in his first 11 fights, which included intimidating stoppages of two local spoilers, Doel Carrasquillo and Martinus Clay. Jones was then matched with former USBA champ and world title challenger Israel “Pito” Cardona, of Hartford, CT. Even though his best days were behind him, Cardona was expected to test Mike by applying continuous pressure. Jones stopped Cardona in just three rounds.

“It wasn’t easy,” said Jones of his fight with Cardona. “I knew he was going to come after me. I do well against guys who follow me around. I kept my jab in his face and landed clean punches.”

Jones, at 5’11” is a tall welterweight, but he carries 147 pounds well. He has no immediate plans to move up, surely to the chagrin of those welters ranked above him.

“It’s getting easier to make weight. I am eating right, and my body is getting mature. I walk around at 160,” he said.

Mike is managed by Doc Nowicki, who happens to be one of the best managers around. Doc has his fighter training at the Newtown Athletic Center in Newtown, Pa. Along with his trainer, Vaughn Jackson, Jones has been sparring with up-and-coming local fighters Ray Serrano and Gaby Rosado, along with highly-touted amateur Julian Williams. Serrano will also fight on the card.

“We are bringing him along nicely, looking for the right fights,” said Nowicki. “Mike was so happy to get this title fight. After his first nine or ten wins, he was already asking us for a title fight.”

Jones would eventually get his wish, but not before getting a little more professional seasoning. That came in the form of tricky veteran Germaine “Silky” Sanders, of Chicago. Sanders made a living out of frustrating his opponents for ten years, and his bout with Jones was no exception. Jones was forced to go the distance for the first time, winning by just two points on all cards, although in the eighth and final round he appeared to have Sanders figured out and ready to go. 

“In the Sanders fight, I learned never underestimate anyone, and to stay on top of my game and stay focused in training,” states Jones. “I have to throw the jab, double and triple jabs, and to work off the jab, throw four and five punches off the jab because he was countering me with his right hand.”

Philadelphia, more than most fight towns, tends to place high expectations on its prospects. Jones has heard the comparisons to all time greats such as Thomas Hearns, who was also a tall welterweight with a devastating punch, but Jones is grounded and shrugs the talk off.

“I don’t think about that,” laughs Jones. “I can’t see how I can be compared to those guys. I will leave that to the public.”

Jones is expecting another hard fight against Juliano Ramos. His 12 knockouts in his 15 wins indicate he has some pop.

“He is going to come out looking to knock me out, and I will look to knock him out,” says Jones. “I have to stick to the game plan because we are both coming to win the fight.” 

Outside of the ring, Mike has stability and is close to his family.

“I don’t do much, other than work and train. I have two daughters [Myana, 4, and Alyza, 2]. I love spending time with them and making them happy. Other than that, I invite my mom over to eat some crabs. I’m a simple guy.”

Tickets for the 7-bout show are priced at $65, $55, and $40, and can be purchased by calling 215-765-0922.