ATLANTIC CITY – Omari Jones is relishing featuring on the undercard of a promotion led by Jaron “Boots” Ennis and supported by Raymond Ford after being convinced to join Matchroom when watching them fight.

The Olympic bronze medallist is to box for the second time as a professional, having made his debut in March when stopping Italy’s Alessio Mastronunzio in his home city of Orlando.

Jones’ talent and success at Paris 2024 meant that he had offers beyond Matchroom – he was present at the Premier Boxing Champions-promoted Bakhram Murtazaliev-Tim Tszyu in Orlando in October. 

It regardless was watching them promote Ennis-Karen Chukhadzhian and Ford-Orlando Gonzalez in Ennis’ home city in November that persuaded him his future was with Matchroom, and it is for that reason that he already feels that he has come “full circle” by fighting on Saturday at Atlantic City’s Boardwalk Hall. 

“Me and Raymond Ford talked a few times – the first time I see him fight was actually in Philly, and the first time I seen ‘Boots’ fight was in Philly back in November,” the 22 year old told BoxingScene. “It’s kind of a full-circle moment. 

“I wasn’t officially with Matchroom, but I came out to Philly to confirm that deal, and while I was there the east coast showed a lot of love; Matchroom showed a lot of love, and showed me how a fight is done. I’m expecting that [on Saturday], and I’m happy to be a part of it this time around.

“I’ll go ahead and say it. I can be the face for Orlando [boxing] – making the Caribe [Royale] a big staple. I sold over 500 tickets. I couldn’t even hear the music – the crowd just went crazy. A lot of them was there for me and I had the city behind me, but I definitely feel the east coast is in a revival. It’s a lot of top fighters. Even coming up in the amateurs. We on the way.”

After the pressure of his professional debut, Jones, a junior middleweight, has been matched with the 36-year-old William Jackson. Plans exist for him to fight up to eight times in his first 12 months as a professional; he has been told that his next contest could be in the summer in New York, which potentially means on the undercard of Richardson Hitchins-George Kambosos Jnr on June 14.

“[Jackson is] a veteran,” Jones explained. “He’s put up a lot of tough fights and went rounds with a lot of prospects. We hoping to get rounds too, and we plan for him to come and fight. He’s good at sitting back and being patient. He’s a veteran; he’s a thinker; he’s looking for a fighter like me to try to make mistakes and capitalize, so my thing is to go in there and be sharp and stick to the game plan.

“I feel great about it. There’s a little less I have to worry about [than] back home. Back home I had to worry about tickets; I had to worry about doing this; having this set up; making this event. Now I’m just able to fight with a little less outside stuff going on.

“It wasn’t pressure. But there was a little more behind it, because of me being in my hometown.

“I had to make a statement. My debut – a lot of people were questioning whether I would be able to adjust to the professional style; if I’d be able to adjust to a 20-fight veteran, coming into the professional game. I was able to show and prove myself again, like I’ve been doing for the past three or four years in the US Olympic cycle.

“You’ve seen the interviews with Eddie [Hearn] – he says he wants me out there eight times [within my first year as a professional], from March to March. I’d try to shoot by five by December.

“Hopefully in June, July, on one of the cards [will be my next fight]. Maybe New York. 

“We had a pretty good conversation. There’s really no rush. The level of competition I competed at was a high level, at the Olympic Games. I can go after those top guys right now, but we want to do a slow build; keep getting veteran opponents. I have another veteran opponent – 13-5. He gave upcoming prospects tough fights. We’re not just picking and choosing cans to just come in and lay down. We’re gon’ take it steady. When it’s time, I’ll be ready.”