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As unbeaten Mike Jones, of Philadelphia, PA, who is 21-0, 17 K0s, and ranked as high as No. 2 welterweight in the world by the WBO behind champion Manny Pacquiao, prepares to defend his NABA and NABO titles against Puerto Rico’s Irving Garcia (17-4-3, 8 KOs) on July 9 at Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall, he has had his best-ever training camp.
Mike Jones:
On his training camp: “I’ve had a great camp and I’m in terrific shape. I’m ready. As each fight goes by, I get in better and better shape. I’m smart. I take nobody for granted. When it’s time to shine, I’m gonna shine.”
His feelings about fighting for a world title (possibly before the end of the year): “It would be a dream come true. I’ve been preparing for this for years. You just want to get a piece of the pie. I’m ready.”
On his goals: “My No. 1 goal is to be No. 1, nothing less. I’m getting closer but not there yet; not where I want to be. My ultimate goal: World Champion.”
On staying at welterweight: “I can make that weight (147 pounds) easily. I want the advantages on my side: my height (6’1”) and speed. I’m still learning to use the height as a big advantage over other welterweights.”
On how he got started in boxing: “As a teenager, I liked basketball and could dunk. I was above average, but not above above average to make it to the NBA so I wanted to try something else. The other sports weren’t rough enough. My dad took me to Joe Frazier’s gym. I picked it up pretty good. I was determined and had a good work ethic.
” They threw me into my first amateur fight one month after I started and I lost. It made me work harder and I stopped my next 11-12 foes. I eventually sparred with the guy who first beat me and I beat him up pretty good. I had 50-60 amateur fights.”
On his style: “I have power like Tyson; a jab like Ali and ring tricks like Roy Jones. I have long, long arms, am tall for a welterweight and fast. I’m pretty good at blocking a guy’s shot. I like to box. I look to be smart. If I see a weakness I like to go in and pounce.”
His favorite fighters: Muhammad Ali (“He always kept popping that jab”); Mike Tyson (“I like his ferociousness & quickness); Roy Jones; Pernell “Sweat Pea” Whitaker; Evander Holyfield (“Great combinations”); Oscar De La Hoya (“He’d snap that good jab of his.”)
On his increased media exposure: “I’m happy to be getting so much positive feedback. But there’s always going to be somebody who hasn’t seen me fight before that I want to look good for. Like they say, you only get one chance to make a good first impression. I want to do that every time I fight.”
On who he’d like to fight in the future: “Anybody with a world championship belt would be a dream fight. That’s what I’ve worked so hard for… to be recognized as one of the best fighters in world.”
On a future fight with Floyd Mayweather: “It would be a dream come true. He’s the man. He always works so hard. Look at his stomach, how ripped it is. I keep working hard every day to get that. Give me 10% of what Mayweather has.
“I’d work his body and keep working the left side and hope he gets tired. You can’t touch him on his right side. He snaps that great jab, up and down. He waits for you to open up and he’ll counter. You must counter his counter. I’d have to be in the same tremendous shape like him.”
On a future fight with Manny Pacquiao: “I’d keep Pacquiao at the end of everything. He jumps in and counter punches. It’s hard to counter punch 3’s and 4’s but you have to be patient.”
On a future fight with WBC titlist Andre Berto (which has been mentioned by Berto’s promoter as a possibility for the fall): “Great talent, very fast…brings a lot of power. I’d try to use my height. Mix it up. When he throws exchanges he leaves himself open. I see myself catching him and knocking him out.”
On his soft-spoken nature: “I’m humble and don’t like to brag or boast. But on fight night, I let my fists do the talking. My fists are rather loud.”
Vaughn Jackson, Jones’ Trainer:
On training camp: “ Mike looks great in training. He’s on fire. It’s hard to find sparring partners for him. No one wants to get in there and take a beating. Mike shows no mercy.”
On Irving Garcia, his July 9 opponent: “We’ve seen tape on Garcia. He’s a nice counter-puncher, with a good right hand but he’s too laid back. Mike’s too tall, too young. Youth (Jones) will overwhelm him. I’d be surprised if it goes past the 5th (round). It’s Mike’s time.”
On Jones’ future: “We want to get past Garcia and then see what’s out there for the future we’re aware what position Mike’s in and we want to keep him busy. He’s getting better each fight. He belongs where he’s at (in the ratings).
“I think this is a very good time for Mike Jones. It’s his time to shine. He’s at his peak right now. It’s like the dominoes are finally starting to fall.
“Mike’s not as big, namewise, as Floyd Mayweather and Manny Paquiao, but he hasn’t yet had the same great opportunities. When he gets the opportunity, he’ll be great.”
J Russell Peltz: Jones’ Promoter:
On one reason why Jones has moved up quickly in the various boxing organizations’ ratings: “Even though I didn’t know it at the time, that weekend (on April 17 that Jones last fought) there was a convention (in Atlantic City) of the four world sanctioning bodies. So everybody was at Mike’s fight, and everybody was impressed. He shot up (the ratings) after that fight.”
On Jones’ outlook: “He’s a young guy and he’s in a hurry. He believes he’s ready for anybody.”
On Jones’ next fight: “If he beats Garcia, he’s not going to fight [Manny] Pacquiao or [Floyd] Mayweather next. I don’t see that happening. He doesn’t have the name recognition yet. But somebody like [WBC welterweight champ Andre] Berto? That’s another story. I could see a Berto fight being made, or a fight with the WBO’s No. 1 contender, Kell Brock. The IBF champion is Jan Zavek. That’s a doable fight, too.”
On the July 9 fight vs Irving Garcia: To me this is the fight. Not only do I consider it Mike’s toughest fight, but I consider it the last before something really substantial. If he doesn’t stub his toe against Irving Garcia, he’s on the doorstep.”
Doc Nowicki: Jones’ Co-Manager:
On training camp: “Mike’s looking excellent and he’s in great shape. He’s been working on his combinations and the usual tricks of the trade. He’s ready and can’t wait for the fight.”
On his July 9 fight: “I don’t think the fight will go the distance but Mike will get some excellent work out of it. He likes to fight. He’s not looking for an easy fight.”
On the future: “There’s nobody we would be afraid to put Mike in against now. We’d welcome a fight against Andre Berto (WBC titlist). We want to fight anyone above Mike in the ratings.”
Jim Williams: Jones’ Co-Manager/Cutman:
On Jones’ training: “Training camp was great. It always is with Mike. He’s a workhorse in the gym. When you think he’s done with his long workout, he starts over his routine again. He goes on and on. He’s a real gym rat and real serious. He’s always in great shape.”
On Irving Garcia his opponent: “Probably the most skilled fighter Mike has fought. Garcia’s a tough, rugged guy but doesn’t have a great chin. When Mike sets up his jab and touches his chin, it’ll be over within 5 or 6 rounds. Not an easy night though.”
On Jones’ future: “Mike will definitely be a world champion. But he says he wants to be more than a champion, he wants to be one of the best of all time. He is very focused and has both feet on the ground.”
