In this Corner ...

Mike Jones returns May 9
Fresh off his national television debut a week ago, 25-year-old unbeaten welterweight Mike Jones has already signed up for his next fight, as he'll battle Gilbert Venegas at the New Alhambra in South Philadelphia on May 9.
Jones (13-0, 12 KOs) had knocked out his first 12 opponents before taking on Germaine Sanders on March 28 in Salamanca, NY in a fight televised on ESPN2's Friday Night Fights. It was the first time many had a chance to see Jones in action, and while he didn't turn in a highlight reel knockout, he put forth a solid effort in taking an eight-round unanimous decision.
His next opponent, Venegas (10-5-3, 7 KOs), fights out of East Moline, Ill. by way of Texas, and is coming off a majority decision loss to Michel Rosales in El Paso last August. Venegas is 2-4-2 since coming off a four-year layoff from 2001-05.
The fight will be promoted by Joe Hand Promotions and Peltz Boxing, and will take place at the New Alhambra, located at Swanson & Ritner Streets, next to Forman Mills.
Quick Jabs
Yes, it was an entertaining scrap, but did anyone else think that unbeaten lightweight Hank Lundy was matched very tough last week against Darnell Jiles? In only his 11th professional fight, the 24-year-old Lundy (10-0-1, 6 KOs) was in the fight of his life against also unbeaten Jiles at the ESPN2 card in Salamanca. It was only a four-rounder, but these two legitimate lightweight prospect went toe-to-toe and many might argue that Jiles had the better of the action. It is very rare that management lets someone with Lundy's upside in such a difficult test this early in his career. Either way, however, it made for good television. By the way, Lundy is scheduled to fight John Mercogliano tonight in Lincoln, R.I. It likely will not make the ESPN2 telecast, which is headlined by Jason Estrada vs. Lance Whitaker. ...
Speaking of the former Olympian Estrada, I find it amazing that this guy continues to get main event TV fights. He has talent, no question, but he's followed up a disappointing effort at the 2004 Olympics with an inconsistent 12-fight start to his career, in which he's gone 11-1 with just two knockouts. He's been spoonfed regional TV dates by promoter Jimmy Burchfield, and when asked to step up against marginal prospect Travis Walker on ShoBox in November 2006, Estrada was dreadful in suffering his first career loss by majority decision. In a nutshell, Estrada has been up-and-down with his weight since turning pro - he's fighting at a career-low 236 against Whitaker - and his slap-and-move style is dreadful to watch. ...
Glad to hear that Versus will be televising Ricky Hatton-Juan Lazcano and Paulie Malignaggi-Lovemore Ndou from Manchester, England on May 24. It will be Hatton's first fight since losing to Floyd Mayweather in December, and it's good that it's on (relatively) free TV. Even better, the telecast will take place on a Saturday afternoon in the U.S., bringing back memories of Saturday afternoon free TV boxing for at least this writer, because it will be a Saturday night fight in England. It will be Versus' first card promoted by someone other than Top Rank, which is good news, because watching Bob Arum fighters take on no-hopers month-after-month has gotten old. Exactly how much Yuri Foreman and Tye Fields can one endure?
Finally, I had my first look at Israel Vazquez-Rafael Marquez III this week, and was very impressed by the level it was fought. It was a terrific fight, but unlike many pundits, I don't think it rivals Ward-Gatti I, Corrales-Castillo I or Barrera-Morales I as far as my favorite slugfests go. Needless to say, however, it's the leader in the clubhouse for Fight of the Year for 2008. Manny Pacquaio-Juan Manuel Marquez II isn't far behind, either.
By the way, if you haven't seen it, find a copy of George Foreman vs. Ron Lyle from January 1976. That, in my opinion, is the most underrated all-time great fight.