The middleweight Amari Jones is a young veteran and has entered the IBF rankings.
Jones defeated Kyle Lomotey via an eight-round unanimous decision in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Africa as part of the Souleymane Cissokho-Egidijus Kavaliauskas undercard.
Jones, 14-0 (12 KOs), from Oakland, California, now trains with Virgil Hunter. The 23-year-old has had a career marked by training around the best. For years, he trained beside Devin Haney. He stayed in Las Vegas getting the best work available, and now he is with an experienced coach in Hunter, who helped guide Andre Ward, one of the great Northern California boxers, to the Hall of Fame.
“I’ve been around numerous champions,” Jones told BoxingScene. “The undisputed champion of the world, I was side by side for years. Been around Virgil since I was 16. Getting in the ring with Caleb Plant, Tim Tszyu, numerous champions, and guys with a lot of experience.”
Jones now sits at No.14 in the IBF rankings and hopes to be active in 2025 to move up. He fought twice last year and linked up with Hunter late in 2024.
“It’s been a hell of an experience,” Jones said of training with Hunter. “It has opened new doors, raised my ceiling. I just can’t wait for the years to come.”
Jones fought two times in Australia – on the Devin Haney-George Kambosos Jnr undercards in 2022 and fighting in Africa only added to his experience.
Jones was originally set to fight on December 7, but the fight was postponed until May 10.
“Honestly, for me, it wasn't that bad,” Jones said, adding that the delay gave him more time to work with Hunter.
“The win was an icebreaker,” Jones said. “I’ve been out of the ring for almost a year, and this got me back in the groove.”
As Jones entered the rankings, a subtle smile appeared on his face as he called upon his experience over the past decade in Las Vegas gyms.
Plenty still see him as a prospect, although he believes he is a threat in the division.
“I am accustomed to it,” Jones said. “It is nothing new to me.”