Philadelphia, PA—Undefeated Mike Jones, fresh off his 11th consecutive knockout, takes on former world title challenger Israel “Pito” Cardona in the 8-round welterweight main event Friday evening, Nov. 9, at the New Alhambra, Swanson & Ritner Streets, next to Forman Mills, in South Philadelphia. First of seven fights at 7.30 p.m..
CN8 will televise the Jones-Cardona bout as well as the heavyweight semifinal between Big John Poore and Dan Whetzel to over seven million homes from Maine to Maryland as part of a two-hour delayed telecast Saturday evening, Nov. 10, at 9.30 pm. The card also will be available through Comcast Video on Demand.
Jones, 24, of North Philadelphia made it 11 knockouts in 11 fights when his left hook to the body forced out Richard Lee Hall, of Rocky Mount, NC, after 98 seconds of the first round of their Oct. 5 fight at the New Alhambra.
An unheralded amateur with 70 fights and not even a Pennsylvania Golden Gloves title, Jones has surfaced as one of the best young prospects in the 147-pound division since turning pro late in 2005. The longest he has gone has been 1.50 into the fifth round of his Aug. 31 fight with Martinus Clay, of Wilson, NC, at the Seneca Niagara Casino in Niagara Falls, NY.
Jones also has defeated Doel Carrasquillo, of Lancaster, PA, who had K0d seven of his previous eight before losing to Jones in less than three rounds, and former New York Golden Gloves champ Jason Thompson, dispatched in two rounds in Jones’ pro debut.
The 32-year-old Cardona, of Hartford, CT, has compiled a 36-7 record, 28 K0s, against some of the best lightweights, junior welterweights and welterweights around and represents, by far, Jones’ toughest and most experienced opponent.
A pro since 1993, Cardona lost a 12-round decision to Paul Spadafora, of Pittsburgh, PA, for the vacant International Boxing Federation (IBF) world lightweight title in 1999.
Cardona won the United States Boxing Association (USBA) lightweight title by knocking out Ivan Robinson, of Philadelphia, PA, and the North American Boxing Federation (NABF) title by outpointing Golden Johnson, of Killeen, TX.
He also has defeated Jeff Mayweather, of Las Vegas, NV, Steve Larrimore, of The Bahamas, and Joel Perez, of Alice, TX.
Cardona has won two out of three fights since ending a four-year retirement in 2006, losing only on points to Mexico’s Juan Manuel Buendia.
Poore, 36, went the distance for the first time in 21 fights when he earned a six-round decision over Mike Miller, of Akron, OH, on Oct. 5 at the New Alhambra. He is 19-2, 18 K0s.
Prior to that, Poore, ended a 14-month layoff with a fifth-round knockout over Dione Craig, of Cincinnati, OH, on Aug. 10 in the same ring.
Whetzel, 35, of Toledo, OH, comes to Philadelphia off a six-round decision over Corey Gregory, of Cleveland, OH, on Aug. 16 in Toledo. He is 9-11-1, 5 K0s.
Five preliminary fights complete the card, which is promoted by Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., and Joe Hand Promotions, Inc.
Tickets priced at $40, $55 and $65 are on sale at the offices of Peltz Boxing Promotions, Inc., (215-765-0922) and also can be purchased online at www.peltzboxing.com.