Omari Jones now knows who he’ll be taking on in his first-ever professional boxing match: Alessio Mastronunzio.
It had previously been announced that Jones, who earned a bronze medal at welterweight in the 2024 Olympics, would fight on March 15 on the undercard of Austin “Ammo” Williams-Patrice Volny.
Jones-Mastronunzio is scheduled for six rounds and will be held “a few pounds north” of the welterweight limit, according to a press release.
The show is promoted by Matchroom Boxing and will air on DAZN from the Caribe Royale Orlando in Orlando, Florida, which is where the 22-year-old Jones is from.
“My hometown supported me through the Olympics and even before it as well,” Jones said in a press release. “The kids at my gym look up to me and want to follow the same route that I am on. To be an inspiration to them is amazing. After I qualified for the Olympics, the first thing I thought about was how this is for the kids in Orlando to let them know they could do this too.”
Mastronunzio, 14-5 (4 KOs), is a 30-year-old from Italy who has fought in the United States once before, suffering a first-round technical knockout to junior middleweight prospect Xander Zayas, who was 11-0 at the time of their December 2021 bout. Mastronunzio has won two in a row: an injury-shortened technical decision over an 8-2-2 foe last June and a points win over a 3-6-1 opponent in October.
Jones’ pro debut will come about seven months after he bowed out of the Olympics. He’s understandably excited about what his future as a professional prizefighter could bring.
“My dream is to fight the best of the best, and right now is just the beginning of my career,” Jones said. “The most important part is to be active and stay in the gym, which I’m always doing, so I’m ready for the call for a world title when that comes.
“I feel I could be America’s next boxing superstar,” he said. “It’s something I’ve worked for my whole life; it’s the same ring I’ve been fighting in for the past 14 years, just in a different arena. I’m ready for the professional game and ready to step in against the big boys.”
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