With belt in reach, Jones gets stronger

The undefeated Mike Jones will meet Argentina’s Sebastian Lujan on Dec. 3 as the top bout under Antonio Margarito-Miguel Cotto.

by Matt Breen

Published Sep. 27, 2011, 7:44 p.m. ET

<MC>His December fight is much more than a debut at one of the sport’s historic venues. Instead, Mike Jones said it’s a chance to show the world the type of fighter he is and a chance to take another step to his goal of winning a world title.

<TB>The undefeated Mt. Airy native will meet Argentina’s Sebastian Lujan on Dec. 3 as the top <NO1>bout under<NO>undercard for the <NO1>main event<NO>fight between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. It will also serve as an IBF welterweight title <NO1>eliminator<NO>qualifying match, <NO1>making<NO>setting up the winner as the <NO1>No. 1<NO>top contender for <NO1>the title.<NO>a title match.

<TB>On Tuesday afternoon at Joe Hand’s Gym in Northern Liberties, Jones demonstrated <NO1>the<NO>his new training regimen <NO1>he has been using<NO>since late this summer. Under the guidance of Rich Meudt, Jones has <NO1>begun<NO>been working on strengthening his legs and building his punching power.<NO1>???<NO>

“Working on my legs a lot, pretty much working on the weakest part of my body,” said Jones. “I’ve never really worked on my legs too much. My legs are going to be really strong.”

<TB>Jones (25-0, 18 KOs) said he has <NO1>begun<NO>been <NO1>to<NO>watching tape on Lujan (38-5-2, 24 KOs) and has noticed the type of pressure Lujan likes to apply in the opening rounds. Lujan will enter the bout riding a 12-match winning streak. Jones has a five-inch height advantage over Lujan.

<TB>“He’s a very tough opponent. He’s ranked in the top 10, so he’s one of the best in the world,” said Jones.

<TB>On Friday, Jones will spar for the first time in prepartion for his December bout. His trainer, Vaughn Jackson, said he plans to have Jones spar two or three times a week.

His December fight is much more than a debut at one of the sport's historic venues. Instead, Mike Jones said it's a chance to show the world the type of fighter he is and a chance to take another step to his goal of winning a world title.

The undefeated Mt. Airy native will meet Argentina's Sebastian Lujan on Dec. 3 as the top undercard for the fight between Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto. It will also serve as an IBF welterweight title qualifying match, setting up the winner as the top contender for a title match.

On Tuesday afternoon at Joe Hand's Gym in Northern Liberties, Jones demonstrated his new training regimen since late this summer. Under the guidance of Rich Meudt, Jones has been working on strengthening his legs and building his punching power.

"Working on my legs a lot, pretty much working on the weakest part of my body," said Jones. "I've never really worked on my legs too much. My legs are going to be really strong."

Jones (25-0, 18 KOs) said he has been watching tape on Lujan (38-5-2, 24 KOs) and has noticed the type of pressure Lujan likes to apply in the opening rounds. Lujan will enter the bout riding a 12-match winning streak. Jones has a five-inch height advantage over Lujan.

"He's a very tough opponent. He's ranked in the top 10, so he's one of the best in the world," said Jones.

On Friday, Jones will spar for the first time in preparation for his December bout. His trainer, Vaughn Jackson, said he plans to have Jones spar two or three times a week.

-Matt, mbreen@phillynews.com, @matt_breen on Twitter.