The hardened Oklahoma fighter, who shared just shy of 20 rounds with world title prospect Kell Brook between 2012 and 2013, has answered the call for another big test as Jones moves back up to 154lbs on January 29 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.
“I had started training before Thanksgiving just getting in shape in the hope of fighting early this year and ended up getting a fight scheduled for February 15th,” Jones explained to World Boxing News.
“My manager then received an email a few weeks ago asking was I interested in fighting Mundine and of course I said yes. I was instantly thinking this is the perfect opportunity to get right back on the scene. Due to fact that I actually started my career around 154 and fought at the weight for a while, it was never really a problem accepting the fight.”
Jones, 27, has already fought 48 times in a busy career, stopping 25 of his opponents, but will come up against an in-form Mundine who recently became the first fighter to ever halt ‘Sugar’ Shane Mosley, although via a back injury.
“Listen, no matter how you look at it, it was a good win for Mundine just from Shane’s name alone, but the reality is that Shane is old and I think he was just cashing out. I don’t really don’t look too much into that,” said Jones.
Upon defeating Mosley in November, Mundine once again reiterated his desire to claim a third world title, whilst also calling out Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather for a pay-per-view encounter in the process, something Jones admitted he is finds incomprehensible.
“Honestly, I just have to laugh at Mundine. I don’t know if he is trying to make himself feel better or what, but he will never get a fight with Floyd. No one here in the U.S. has even ever heard of him.
“Mundine needs to just accept the fact that he makes great money in Australia and he just needs to continue doing so. And if he honestly thinks he will get a fight with Floyd he is delirious!”
Asked whether the light-middleweight move would be something Jones would consider permanently, Jones added: “I am not opposed to it if the fights are there and the money is right, but I would prefer to move back to 147 as I feel more comfortable there.”
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