Boxing News Boxing News
Unbeaten welterweight prospect Mike Jones makes the first defense of his NABA title against Larry Mosley on March 6, at the Legendary Blue Horizon in Philadelphia.
Jones, 25, broke into the world ratings in 2008 by scoring knockouts over Juliano Ramos and Luciano Perez, and decisions over Germaine Sanders and Gilbert Venegas.
While Ramos is from Boca Raton, FL, Perez, Sanders and Venegas all are from Chicago, which gives Jones and the City of Brotherly Love a decided advantage over the Windy City.
A pro since 2005, Jones is rated No. 12 in the world by the WBA, No. 13 by the IBF and No. 27 by the WBC. His 16-0 record includes 14 knockouts. Jones’ sixth-round knockout last Aug. 29 over Ramos earned him the vacant NABA 147-pound title.
Mosley, 29, makes his second start in Philadelphia in three years. Most ringside observers felt he was unlucky to be held to a 12-round draw here by Miguel Figueroa on March 3, 2006.
A pro since 2000, Mosley is 15-3-2 (6). He followed the Figueroa fight by boxing another 12-round draw, this time with world-rated Golden Johnson in Houston, TX, Johnson’s backyard.
In his last fight on Oct. 24 in Carbazon, CA, Mosley lost a unanimous 10-round decision in a solid fight to undefeated 18-year-old Mexican phenom Saul Alvarez, 96-94, 97-93, 99-91.
This will be Mosley’s second trip to the East Coast. He KO’d Alexis Divison, of Miami, FL, on Aug. 4, 2005, at the Borgata Hotel Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. At the time, Divison was 16-1 (12).
The March 6 card represents a return to the Blue Horizon after eight years for Hall-of-Fame promoter J Russell Peltz, who began his career there as a 22-year-old in 1969. He is promoting this card, the first of six within a 12-month period at the Blue Horizon, with Joe Hand Promotions, Inc.
Tickets for the March 6 card are priced at $45 and $60. They are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc. (215-765-0922) and at the offices of Joe Hand Promotions, Inc. (215-364-9000). They also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.
