Omari Jones says he is ready to bring big-time boxing back to his Orlando hometown as he prepares to make his professional debut against Alessio Mastronunzio on Saturday night , live worldwide on DAZN from Caribe Royale.
Jones was Team USA’s sole medalist at the Paris Olympics as he brought home the bronze medal in the welterweight division back to Florida.
The 22 year old penned a promotional deal with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom in January, and the exciting talent kicks off life in the paid ranks in a six-round clash with Italian Mastronunzio (14-5 (4 KOs) a few pounds north of the welterweight limit.
Jones has grand plans to emulate some of the greats of the sport but knows he’s in great hands with Hearn and the rest of his team and will make sure he’s ready to take his chance to match his amateur success as a pro when it comes.
“Bringing big time boxing back to Orlando is definitely a dream come true,” said Jones. “I always envisioned myself having a homecoming here, seeing the crowd and all the fans here, and to be the star of the city.
“I feel like my younger self would definitely be proud of me and where I am now. Thinking back to the eight year old kid that always envisioned himself at the Olympics, told his parents that I have to get to the gym in order to fulfill my goals and dreams, it’s like ‘wow man, you did it’, but the job is definitely not done yet.
“The Olympics was a once in a lifetime dream achieved, of course I wanted the gold medal, but now it’s time to go onto the next chapter and achieve my professional boxing dreams.
“I can move onto the professional ranks and show people what I can do, start with six rounds and as the fights go on in my career, I’m just going to keep getting better.
"I don’t feel any pressure to fight in my city, I just go out there and perform day in and day out. I think my ideal weight is probably going to be 154lbs.
"I definitely see myself going up different weight classes as I get older like 160 and 168, but just one step at a time, get some titles here and there and maybe do something like Roy Jones.
“I’m a boxer puncher, hit and don’t get hit, I feel like I’m a mixture of a couple of fighters people enjoyed back in the day like Jones, Sugar Ray Leonard, Muhammad Ali, Floyd Mayweather, it’s a mixture and I feel like if fans loved those guys, they’ll definitely love me.
"It’s a new chapter, the start of a new Omari Jones stepping into the pro game, I have nothing but time to work with at 22. Once they let me go, it’s time to do my thing.”
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