ORLANDO –
Omari Jones has lived up to the billing as one of boxing’s most promising prospects three fights into his young career.
The 22-year-old Jones’ next trek into the ring could prove to be his most difficult, though.
The 2024 Olympic bronze medalist will return to his hometown of Orlando to face Yusuph Metu in a six-round junior middleweight match Saturday night at Caribe Royale. In Metu, Jones believes he is up against the biggest challenge of his brief career.
“This is definitely the toughest test,” Jones told The Ring. “He’s 12-2, he hasn’t been stopped and he went the distance in 10-rounders with a lot of veterans and undefeated fighters. He gave them tough times, so I’m ready for the challenge.”
Metu (12-2, 9 KOs), of Mwanza, Tanzania, is coming off a first-round knockout of Mainya Ramadhan (4-5-4, 0 KOs) on July 19. The two losses on Metu’s record came via unanimous decision in 10-round bouts to undefeated fighters in
Anthony Velazquez (18-0-1, 15 KOs) on April 26 and
Albert Khamkhoev (12-0, 5 KOs) in September 2024.
Metu, 32, began his career 10-0 with seven knockouts before going 2-2 in his last four fights.
Jones (3-0, 3 KOs) last stepped into the ring on the same day Metu last fought.
He dropped the awkward and much more experienced Alfredo Rodolfo Blanco (24-15, 11 KOs) twice and stopped him with a body shot in the third round. Jones has yet to fight beyond the third round as a pro.
“I started training a week or so after my fight [against Blanco], so it’s been a long time coming,” Jones said. “I’m ready to get back in there, and there’s no better place to do it than in my hometown. I’m very excited. Sold a lot of tickets, so there are going to be a lot of people in support and it’s going to be a great show, I promise you.”