By Mark DeSisto

An interesting crossroads bout that Top Rank put together for tonight's Manny Pacquiao–Antonio Margarito pay-per-view undercard at Cowboys Stadium, will see Mexican brawler Jesus Soto Karass get what might be a final chance at glory against recently signed Top Rank contender Mike Jones, in a clash for Jones’ NABA/NABO welterweight title. 

Jones is a six-foot tall physically gifted Philadelphia fighter. His career has been brought along nicely by local Philly promoter J. Russell Peltz, who had Jones climbing the ladder against tough Latino contenders on Spanish television networks, before showcasing him as the main event on Showtime’s Shobox series this past summer.

Jones didn’t disappoint, scoring a fifth round knockout over battle tested Irving Garcia, propelling Jones to a top four ranking in all four major sanctioning bodies and prompting Peltz to negotiate a promotional partnership with powerhouse Top Rank.  Both promoters have visions of Jones becoming another world champion from a boxing hotbed like Philadelphia. The rapidly improving Jones has forged much of his career in the gym of all time great Joe Frazier, who has given M.J. a few tips when it comes to sitting down on his punches.

Soto Karass was a long-time Margarito sparring partner and defended his WBC Continental Americas welterweight title four times before losing it one year ago to Alfonso Gomez on a technical decision in the sixth round. Gomez was unable to continue due to the severity of a cut caused by an early round head clash.

Gomez clearly won the early rounds but in typical Soto Karass form, his engine was revving up as the fight went on and it appeared that the second half of the fight was going to be extremely difficult for Gomez.

Just half a year older than Jones at age 28, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to question if “El Renuente” has left part of his fighting youth in the ring, considering he’s banged with the relentless Margarito for years and the jaw dropping wars he’s waged in the pro ranks. The most impressive result being an 8th round stoppage over former contender David Estrada back in the summer of 2008. Estrada has only been stopped two other times and it took current welterweight champion Andre Berto and former champion  Kermit Cintron more rounds to do it.

That was certainly a high point in the career of Soto Karass (24-4-3, 16KO) who lost much momentum with the loss to Gomez and another bout ruled a “no contest”, which ended in just two rounds on a cut back in May.   If there’s anything that could ignite a spark for Jesus and give him a shot at pulling off the upset against Jones, it’s his new alignment with world champion producing trainer Joe Goosen, who started working with the Los Mochis, Sinaloa native before his last fight in May.

“Soto Karass has given himself every possible chance to win this fight based on the lengthy training camp we’ve had”, stated the Southern California based trainer.  “His skin looks great, his weight is good, and he’s done everything I’ve asked."

The Jones-Soto Karass bout will be one of 3 fights on the undercard to the Pacquiao-Margarito main event. The other bouts include Cuban amateur sensation Guillermo Rigondeax against Ricardo Cordoba in a WBA super bantamweight title fight and rising lightweight banger Brandon Rios against Omri Lowther. Starting time is 6pm PST.