Touted Philadelphia welterweight set for rematch with Soto-Karass

Mike Jones isn't going to let 1½ feet of snow slow him as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career.

The Philadelphia welterweight, ranked in the top four by all four of boxing's major sanctioning bodies, has a Feb. 19 date with Jesus Soto-Karass at Mandalay Bay Events Center in a rematch of their controversial Nov. 13 fight in Arlington, Texas, which Jones won by majority decision. But with snow piling up to as much as 17 inches in Jones' hometown, the fighter has had to forgo street running and take his training indoors.

"Anytime there's a bunch of snow, it makes it harder to do anything," the 27-year-old Jones said after working out at the Joe Hand Gym in Philadelphia, which as of Friday had received 25 inches of snow in January. "But you just deal with it."

Jones (23-0, 18 knockouts) is the reigning WBC Continental Americas, NABO and NABA champion and ranked No. 2 by the IBF and WBO. He's ranked No. 3 by the WBA and No. 4 by the WBC.

He almost knocked out Soto-Karass in the second round when they met at Cowboys Stadium. But Soto-Karass stayed upright, and by the end of the 10-round fight, Jones was the one holding on.

Many fans thought the 28-year-old Soto-Karass had done enough to win, but Jones' hand was raised. He said he learned a valuable lesson in the victory.

"I lost my legs after that second round," Jones said. "I had punched myself out. He was so easy to hit. But I should have worked the body instead of going for the knockout."

Jones could have denied Soto-Karass (24-5-3, 16 KOs) a rematch. But he said he needs to remove the doubt that has lingered from their first fight. A win probably would bolster his ranking among the major sanctioning bodies.

"There's a question in some people's minds whether I won or lost," Jones said. "By fighting him again and beating him, I won't leave any doubt."

Jones said he'll be in better shape for the rematch, which is scheduled for 12 rounds and will be the main undercard fight to the WBC-WBO bantamweight title bout between Fernando Montiel and Nonito Donaire. Jones is running on a treadmill inside the gym when he can't run outside, and he said he won't use the bad weather as an excuse.

"Trust me, I'll be ready ... 100 percent," Jones said. "I'm working on my legs and being patient. I want to be poised and professional so I won't make the same mistakes."

■ GUZMAN, GUTIERREZ SUSPENDED -- Joan Guzman admitted he used Furosemide before his Dec. 11 junior welterweight fight with Jason Davis at Mandalay Bay, and he has been suspended eight months and fined $3,750 by the Nevada Athletic Commission.

Guzman said he used the banned diuretic two days before the fight in an attempt to make the 140-pound weight limit. He didn't, weighing 144½ pounds.

Along with the fine (25 percent of his $15,000 purse) and suspension, Guzman's second-round technical knockout over Davis has been changed to no contest.

Another boxer, Jesus Gutierrez, temporarily has been suspended pending a hearing after he tested positive for the banned diuretic Bumetanide following his Jan. 7 four-round unanimous decision over Franky Martinez in their lightweight bout at Cox Pavilion. Gutierrez is expected to appear before the commission next month.

■ MONTIEL-DONAIRE OFFICIALS -- Las Vegas' Russell Mora will referee the Montiel-Donaire fight. The judges will be Dave Moretti and Patricia Morse-Jarman of Las Vegas and Ed Kugler of Colorado.

■ MAGDALENO KEEPS BUSY -- Las Vegas featherweight Jesse Magdaleno will be on the undercard of the Top Rank show Feb. 26 at the Palms, fighting in a four-round bout against an opponent to be determined.

Magdaleno (2-0, two KOs) is coming off an impressive third-round TKO of Cain Garcia on Jan. 22 at Texas Station.

■ GOLDEN GLOVES -- The Nevada Golden Gloves Tournament will be Feb. 12 and 13 at Barry's Boxing.

The tournament, open to males 17 and older, will be contested in 10 weight classes. The Feb. 12 bouts will begin at 4 p.m., with the first bell for the Feb. 13 finals scheduled for 1 p.m.

Contact reporter Steve Carp at scarp@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2913.