Mike Jones Scores Unanimous Decision Over Jesus Soto-Karass

LAS VEGAS -- Unbeaten Philadephia welterweight (147 pounds) Mike Jones boxed his way to a 12-round, unanimous decision over Mexico's Jesus Soto-Karass in Saturday night's HBO televised, Top Rank Promotions clash at the Mandalay Bay Hotel.

In victory, Jones improved to 24-0, with 18 knockouts, this, being a better performance against Soto-Karass (25-6-3, 16 KOs) than his disputed, unanimous decision over the same fighter in November at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Soto-Karass' face was a mask of crimson, owed much to a pair of accidental head clashes in the second round as much as to Jones' punching power.

"I couldn't get anxious again like I did the first time, if I would have done that it would have been a big mistake and I would have been playing into his game plan," said Jones, who had welts beneath both eyes.

"He wanted me to play into his plans and to fight his fight, and I wasn't going to allow him to do that," said Jones. "I was going to take my time and I was going to pick my shots like I trained to do coming into the fight."

Judges Duane Ford, Robert Hoyle and Ricardo Ocasio had it 115-113, 116-112, and, 1117-111, respectively, for Jones. FanHouse also had it for Jones, 117-111.

Jones out-landed Soto-Karass, 408-to-226, overall, 226-93, in jabs, and, 182-to-133 in power punches.

"There was a few times where I could have gone for the knockout, when I hurt him to the head a couple of times and a couple of times to the body," said Jones.

"But I knew what I was in there facing because I fought him the last fight," said Jones. "I knew what he was all about. He was really tough, and he can endure a lot of pain."

Jones threw 116 punches in the second round of their initial meeting, 90 of which were power shots, more than 50 of which landed on the head or the body of Soto-Karass.

"The perfect thing that happened in the first fight was for me to go out there and try to knock him out. It taught me a big lesson, and I learned a lot, and that was the best thing that could have happened to me in my young career," said Jones.

"I know that I have to be more poised and more patient with my arsenal. I've got to spread it out for 12 rounds, especially when you fight tough guys like Soto-Karass," said Jones. "It was a great fight, and I had a lot of fun. I think that I did a little better than the first and I'm pretty much pleased with my performance."

Jones-Soto-Karass II was fought on the undercard of a main event featuring former WBA interim super flyweight (115 pounds) titlist, Nonito Donaire (25-1, 17 KOs), of the Philippines, against WBO and WBC king, Fernando Montiel (44-2-2, 34 KOs), of Mexico, in a bantamweight (118 pounds) unification match up.



For Jones, the fight marked the second straight time that he fought on a highly-publicized card.

Jones-Soto-Karass I was on the under card of a unanimous decision victory by eight-division king Manny Pacquiao (52-3-2, 38 KOs) over Antonio Margarito for the WBC's junior middleweight (154 pounds) belt, this, being added to the WBO welterweight crown that Pacquiao already owned.

"It should be noted that I had two tough fights on two of the biggest cards. A lot of guys they fight nobodies on big cards, but I went to war twice in a row," said Jones.

"I'm just putting everything out there for the world to see, and I feel good about it. It feels like a big accomplishment. Because not ever fighter goes that rout," said Jones. "I'm not sure what's next. I'm take a couple of weeks off, get some rest, go back to the drawing board and become the better boxer that I'm trying to become. I'll study tapes, and improve my craft."