Omari Jones

{{Infobox boxer

|name = Omari Jones

|image = Omari JONES 2024.jpg

|caption = Jones in 2024

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|2002|11|07}}

|birth_place = Orlando, Florida, U.S.

|height= 188 cm

|nationality = {{USA}}

|boxrec = 1007741

|total = 2

|wins = 2

|KO = 2

|losses = 0

|draws =

|no contests = 0

|website =

|medaltemplates =

{{MedalCountry|{{Flag|United States}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|File:Olympic_rings_with_white_rims.svg Olympic Games}}

}}

Omari 'The Banger' Jones ({{IPAc-en|oʊ|ˈ|m|ɑːr|iː}} {{respell|oh|MAR|ee}}; born November 7, 2002){{cite web |url=https://olympics.com/en/paris-2024/athlete/omari-jones_1955645|title=JONES Omari|date=2024 |website=Olympics.com |access-date=9 August 2024}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Boxe/AussiFicheAthlete194398.html|title=Omari Jones|work=L'Equipe|access-date=June 27, 2022|language=French}} is an American professional boxer.{{Cite web|url=https://www.teamusa.com/news/2021/november/05/18-year-old-omari-jones-caps-off-boxing-world-championships-debut-with-a-silver-medal|title=18-Year-Old Omari Jones Caps Off Boxing World Championships Debut With A Silver Medal|work=Team USA|date=November 5, 2021|first=Chrös|last=McDougall|access-date=June 27, 2022}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/young-boxer-making-history-lifting-people-up-along-the-way.amp|title=Young boxer making history, lifting people up along the way|work=WOFL|date=February 1, 2022|first=LuAnne|last=Sorrell|access-date=June 27, 2022}}

As an amateur, he won a silver medal in the welterweight division at the 2021 AIBA World Boxing Championships.{{Cite web|url=http://amateur-boxing.strefa.pl/Championships/WorldChampionships2021.pdf|title=AIBA Men's World Boxing Championships 2021|work=AIBA World Boxing Championships|access-date=June 27, 2022}} At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Jones won a bronze medal in the welterweight division.{{Cite web |date=2024-08-06 |title=Omari Jones' Olympic Journey Concludes with Bronze Medal |url=https://www.usaboxing.org/news/2024/august/06/omari-jones-olympic-journey-concludes-but-secured-bronze |access-date=2024-10-08 |website=www.usaboxing.org |language=en}} He turned professional in January 2025, signing a promotional contract with Matchroom Boxing.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/amateur-starlet-omari-jones-signs-professional-terms-with-matchroom--201377|title=Amateur starlet Omari Jones signs professional terms with Matchroom|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=21 January 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://boxingnewsonline.net/u-s-olympian-omari-jones-signs-promotional-deal-with-matchroom-boxing/|title=U.S. Olympian Omari Jones signs promotional deal with Matchroom Boxing|publisher=Boxing News Online|accessdate=21 January 2025}}

Background

Jones has competed in combat sports for a majority of his life. He started with karate lessons at age four and transitioned to boxing at age eight.{{Cite web |last=Gottschalk |first=Jeremy |title=Student And Amateur Boxer Omari ‘The Banger’ Jones Heads To Paris Olympics 2024 |url=https://valenciavoice.com/33121/news/sports/student-boxer-omari-jones-heads-to-paris-olympics-2024/ |access-date=2024-08-27 |website=Valencia Voice}} Jones currently trains professionally with coach Jason Galarza in Orlando, Florida.{{cn|date=April 2025}}

In December 2024, Jones graduated from Valencia College, Orlando with an associates degree.{{Cite web |title=Omari Jones College Access Story {{!}} Stories {{!}} Valencia College |url=https://valenciacollege.edu/about/stories/college-access-story-omari-jones.php |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=valenciacollege.edu}}{{Cite web |title=Instagram |url=https://www.instagram.com/bangerputdempaws/p/DDa3TkGRoGa/i-finally-walked-across-the-stage-today-completing-my-associates-degree-and-i-am/?img_index=1 |access-date=2024-12-21 |website=www.instagram.com}}

Professional career

Jones signed a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom on January 21, 2025, five months after winning a bronze medal in the welterweight division at the 2024 Paris Olympics games. Jones explained his decision saying, “I chose Eddie because he came to meet with me in Paris after my last fight in the Olympics and I understood how serious he was about my making a superstar and global star. I also want to stay busy, and I feel that Matchroom and Eddie Hearn is the perfect fit for that.” He continued to train with Jason Galarza in his home city of Orlando.{{Cite web |title=Team USA Olympic Medalist Omari Jones signs with Matchroom Boxing |url=https://www.matchroomboxing.com/news/team-usa-olympic-medalist-omari-jones-signs-with-matchroom-boxing/ |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=Matchroom Boxing |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Amateur starlet Omari Jones signs professional terms with Matchroom |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/amateur-starlet-omari-jones-signs-professional-terms-with-matchroom--201377 |access-date=2025-01-27 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}}

Jones was scheduled to make his professional boxing debut on March 15, 2025 at Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, FL.{{cite news |last1=Iskenderov |first1=Parviz |title=Austin Williams faces Patrice Volny in Orlando, Florida in mid-March |url=https://www.fightmag.com/austin-williams-faces-patrice-volny-in-orlando-florida-in-mid-march/ |work=FIGHTMAG |date=23 January 2025}}{{cite news |title=Florida's Omari Jones set for hometown debut on March 15 |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/floridas-omari-jones-set-for-hometown-debut-on-march-15--204826 |work=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}} His opponent was later revealed as Alessio Mastronunzi, in a scheduled 6-round bout, which would take place just above the welterweight limit.{{Cite web |title=In pro debut, Omari Jones will face Alessio Mastronunzio on March 15 |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/in-pro-debut-omari-jones-will-face-alessio-mastronunzio-on-march-15--205109 |access-date=2025-02-06 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}} Jones would go on to win that fight via TKO in the second round. Jones threw 116 total punches, landing 40 (34.5%). Mastronunzi landed two punches, which came in round 1. After the bout, Hearn announced Jones would next feature on the Jaron Ennis vs. Eimantis Stanionis undercard in Atlantic City on April 12, 2025.{{cite web|url=https://www.boxingscene.com/omari-jones-scores-tko-win-in-pro-debut-jamaine-ortiz-wins-decision--205910|title=Omari Jones scores TKO win in pro debut; Jamaine Ortiz wins decision|publisher=Boxing Scene|accessdate=16 March 2025}}{{Cite web |title=CompuBox statistics: Omari Jones TKO2 Alessio Mastronunzio |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/compubox-statistics-omari-jones-alessio-mastronunzio |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}} Jones stopped 36 year old William Jackson in the opening round. The stoppage came after only 1 minute and 47 seconds to remain undefeated. Jones was looking to get rounds in against Jackson, but was unable to, after Jackson made little attempt to get up following the knockdown.{{Cite web |title=Raymond Ford blanks Thomas Mattice to angle toward title shot |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/raymond-ford-blanks-thomas-mattice-to-angle-toward-title-shot |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}} His next bout was expected to take place on the Richardson Hitchins vs. George Kambosos undercard in New York, on June 14.{{Cite web |title=Omari Jones-Darrelle Valsaint could happen ‘down the line’ |url=https://www.boxingscene.com/articles/omari-jones-darrelle-valsaint-could-happen-down-the-line |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=www.boxingscene.com |language=en}}

Professional boxing record

{{BoxingRecordSummary

|draws=

|nc=

|ko-wins=2

|ko-losses=0

|dec-wins=0

|dec-losses=

|dq-wins=

|dq-losses=

}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
{{abbr\|No.\|Number}} !Result !Record !Opponent !Type !Round, time !Date !Location !Notes
2 \|{{yes2}}Win \|2–0 \| style="text-align:left;"\|William Jackson \|{{abbr\|KO\|Knockout}} \|1 (6) {{small\|1:47}} \|12 Apr 2025 \|style="text-align:left;"\|{{small\|Boardwalk Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.}} \|
1 \|{{yes2}}Win \|1–0 \|style="text-align:left;"\|Alessio Mastronunzio \|{{abbr\|TKO\|Technical knockout}} \|2 (6), {{small\|0:22}} \|15 Mar 2025 \|style="text-align:left;"\|{{small\|Caribe Royale, Orlando, Florida, U.S.}} \|

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

!Result

!Record

!Opponent

!Type

!Round, time

!Date

!Location

!Notes

|{{yes2}}Win

|2–0

| style="text-align:left;"|William Jackson