With his victory over Lujan, Mike Jones assumed the IBF's top rating and could meet Randall Bailey for the vacant welterweight belt next.
A Saturday press conference is in the works for smack-talkers Adrien Broner and Paulie Malignaggi.
Jones-Bailey IBF title belt negotiations have begun
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NEW YORK -- Negoations have begun for an IBF title bout between Philadelphia welterweight Mike Jones and Miami's Randall Bailey, IBF Championships Chairman Lindsay Tucker told RingTV.com on Saturday. The 28-year-old Jones (26-0, 19 knockouts) most recently overcame rugged Argentine slugger Sebastian Lujan (38-6-2, 24 KOs) by unanimous decision on the Dec. 3 undercard of Miguel Cotto vs. Antonio Margarito, ending Lujan's 12-fight winning streak that had included six knockouts. Click here for round-by-round results of the fight. With that victory, Jones earned the No. 1 spot in the IBF's ratings and a shot at IBF No. 2-rated Bailey (42-7, 36 KOs) for the belt that was recently vacated by Andre Berto. "That fight between Jones and Lujan was on Dec. 3, and on that Monday, Dec. 5, the letter went out that they have 30 days until Jan. 5 to come to an agreement," said Tucker. "If they don't, then the next step is that we have to call for a purse bid." The 37-year-old Bailey has won three straight fights since being stopped in the 11th round by Juan Urango in August of 2009.
Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank Inc. Lem Satterfield can be reached at lemuel.satterfield@gmail.com |