OLYMPIC Bronze Medallist Omari Jones is now a Matchroom fighter. The 22-year-old is the latest American added to Eddie Hearn’s stable of talent after signing a promotional agreement with the Essex-based promotional team.
Jones, along with Britain’s Lewis Richardson, both won Bronze at last year’s Paris Games in the men’s 71kg competition which was won by Uzbekistan’s Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev with Silver going to Mexico’s Marco Verde who has also turned pro under the management of Eddy Reynoso.
Qualification for the Games arrived in March 2024 with a 4-1 victory over Nishant Dev, who also joined Matchroom this month. The Floridian displayed a wide stance and his hands down as he looked to beat Dev to the punch. His hand speed and accuracy were certainly two eye-catching traits which helped secure him the win.
Jones balanced boxing with studying Business Administration at Valencia College but combat sports has been part of his life since he was four years old. It was then Jones would take karate lessons and then four years later he would find boxing. An amateur coach would eventually dub Jones ‘The Banger’ because of his power and inside fighting.
“My goals in the professional game in 2025 is to stay active, and win. Long term, I would like to become world champion, be mentioned amongst the greats and fight the best of the best,” said Jones.
“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.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn added: “Omari caught my eye when I saw him fight at the Olympics – the star potential was there for all to see, and I am honoured that he has chosen Matchroom and DAZN to guide him in the pros. The medal in Paris was the culmination of an outstanding amateur career, and I have no doubt that he is going to transfer that success into a glittering career in the paid ranks.
“Omari has all the ingredients to become a household name in America; he has bags of skills, a great style, real work ethic, an infectious personality and the drive to help young people and his community. We’re excited to get the journey started and news will come tomorrow of that first step.”
A short documentary about Jones titled Dollar and a Dream is available on YouTube but the boxer is also a published author with his first book ‘The Journey of an Olympian’ available on Amazon.
