By Lem Satterfield
Unbeaten welterweight Mike Jones will return to the ring opposite 35-year-old journeyman Raul Munoz on June 25 in his hometown of Philadelphia at the South Philly Arena on a Fox Sports televised bout that is part of the "Top Rank Live" series.
The 28-year-old Jones (24-0, 18 knockouts) is coming off of February's second straight victory over Mexican brawler Jesus Soto-Karass (25-6-3, 16 KOs), whom Jones defeated by unanimous decision at the Mandalay Bay Hotel three months after having earned a disputed, majority decision over Soto-Karass at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium in November.
After having boxed and battered a bloody Soto-Karass over the course of the 12, brutal rounds of their rematch, Jones is looking to remain active against Munoz (26-13-1, 16 KOs) in addition to gaining himself some exposure, in accordance with the wishes of his promoter, Russel Peltz.
Munoz has won two straight bouts and is coming off of April's second-round stoppage of John Hoffman.
Jones' consecutive wins over Soto-Karass were contested, respectively, on the undercards of a unanimous decision by eight-division and WBO welterweight titlist Manny Pacquiao over Antonio Margarito for the since-vacated WBC junior middleweight belt, and, a second-round knockout by then-WBA interim super flyweight king, Nonito Donaire over then-WBO and WBC king, Fernando Montiel.
In victory, Jones could return in August or September on HBO, Peltz has said.