Amari Jones more than made himself at home Friday night in disposing of former middleweight champion Vincenzo Gualtieri in the third round.
And now, the 24-year-old Oakland, California, product appears poised to make a champion’s throne his domain for an extended period after a brilliant showing that reduced Gualtieri to a journeyman-type appearance, having dropped him in the same frame at SAP Center in San Jose, California.
“I made a statement that needed to be made. I showed it against a well-experienced champion,” Jones said in the ring.
In the third, Jones snapped lefts to the body and a hard left uppercut backed up the ex-champion as another right sent him to the canvas.
“I was trying to set him up. I hit him on the top of his head and knocked his equilibrium off,” Jones said.
Clearly reeling, Gualtieri 25-2-1 (8 KOs), then ate a vicious right uppercut, with Jones sending two more power shots to the head to end it.
“I didn’t think it’d be that quick but we put the shots together,” Jones said. “I knew it was only a matter of time.
“I’m the ultimate finisher. I put the combos together, hit him in the head and finished him.”
Jones rightfully knew there was more to it than that.
As the IBF’s No. 4-ranked contender and with the belt sitting vacant, he is now next in line to meet the winner of the Etinosa Oliha-Aaron McKenna that should be staged this summer.
Jones, switching between southpaw and orthodox stances, flashed speed and reach advantages to open the bout, delivering a head-jarring right uppercut in the first.
Jones’ jab penetrated Gualtieri’s guard early in the second.
Former IBF middleweight champion Gualtieri sought to set up body shots, but Jones’ pace was too crisp as the younger fighter flexed his strength on responding punches, setting the stage for the punishing third.
“A star was made tonight,” Jones said. “I put the division on notice.”
Jones’ promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, said he’d like to make the title fight by the late fall.
“That world title is going back to Oakland this year,” De La Hoya proclaimed. “I saw maturity, poise, taking his time, yet being aggressive. A masterclass performance.”
In the co-main event, ranked cruiserweight Robin Safar overcame a second-round knockdown at the hands of Yamil Peralta to emerge with a split-decision victory by scores of 116-111 (Rudy Barragan), 112-115 (Melissa McMorrow) and 114-113 (David Sullivan).
The 33-year-old Safar 20-0 (13 KOs), ranked No. 4 by the WBO, rallied by landing heavier blows.Another Golden Boy Promotions product, Darius Fulghum 15-1-1 (13 KOs), stopped Cuba’s Yoanki Urrutia at the close of the third round.
Earlier, cruiserweight Tristan Kalkreuth 17-1 (12 KOs) also overcame drama by getting roughed up by Marco Antonio Canedo in the fourth round before unleashing a barrage of heavy right hands to first drop and then stop Canedo.
