Omari Jones has signed a long-term promotional contract with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.

Jones, an outstanding amateur, secured the bronze medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics and has now turned professional, putting his career in Hearn’s hands.

“The Banger” was defeated in the welterweight semi-finals by eventual gold medalist Asadkhuja Muydinkhujaev.

Jones said this week that Matchroom and Eddie Hearn are a “perfect fit” as he embarks on his professional boxing journey.

“I am delighted to announce that I am turning professional with Eddie Hearn and Matchroom.

We won the race. We welcome another American star to the team, Omari Jones 🇺🇸💫 @MatchroomBoxing @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/8pFzKpUpJx

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) January 21, 2025

“I chose Eddie because he met me in Paris after my last Olympic fight and I understood how stern he was about me becoming a superstar and a world star.

I also want to stay busy and I feel Matchroom and Eddie Hearn are perfect for that.

“My goals for playing professionally in 2025 are to stay energetic and win. In the long run, I would like to become a world champion, be mentioned among the greats and fight against the best of the best.”

Jones becomes the ninth Olympic medalist to make his professional debut for Hearn and Matchroom, and his recent promoter is thrilled to welcome the Olympic star to boxing’s top team.

In the press release announcing the signing, Hearn stated:

“I’m delighted to have won the race to sign Omari.

“Omari caught my eye when I saw him compete at the Olympics – the star’s potential was there for all to see and I’m honored he chose Matchroom and DAZN to guide him in his professional career.

The medal in Paris was the culmination of an outstanding amateur career and I have no doubt that he will translate this success into a brilliant career in the paid ranks.

Ringside Z @terencecrawford 🤝 pic.twitter.com/aoKDQXSWnj

— Omari Jones (@iam_OmariJones) September 15, 2024

“Omari has all the ingredients to become a household name in America; he has tons of skills, great style, a real work ethic, an infectious personality and a desire to assist teenage people and his community.

We are excited to begin this journey and will receive news of this first step tomorrow.”

Renowned boxing trainer Teddy Atlas has expressed his support for Tyson Fury’s decision to retire, warning that he could follow in the footsteps of Muhammad Ali if the decision is reversed. Last week, the two-time world heavyweight champion sent shockwaves through the boxing community by announcing he was leaving the sport.

This happened after his second loss in a row to Oleksandr Usyk. In a low video shared on social media, the British boxer stated: “Hello everyone, I’ll keep it low and sweet,” he said to the camera.

“I would like to announce that I am leaving boxing. It was great fun, I enjoyed every minute of it. I’ll end there. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everyone, see you on the other side. Get up! ” Although he was widely expected to face fellow Briton Anthony Joshua in the ring this year, that fight appears to be off the table. While many were disappointed with his decision, Atlas maintains that the “Gypsy King” made the right choice.

Speech to CanadaCasino.Cahe stated, “I think it’s time for him to go. I love it when a movie ends on a good note. My wife is getting mad, she won’t watch the movie with me because she says, “As soon as it gets bad, you don’t like the way it ends, turn it off.” Yes, I turn it off. I don’t want to see it, so I’d like to see it go away.”

“He made huge amounts of money. God bless him. He could take care of his family for who knows how many lifetimes and he earned it. I’d like to see him go off into the sunset before the sun sets, before it goes murky. I’d like to see him alone, in the right way, walking away at sunset in a movie. I don’t want to see another Muhammad Ali, the great Muhammad Ali, stay too long.

Ali, a three-time former world champion, is widely considered one of the greatest heavyweights in the history of the sport and sadly passed away in 2016. He had suffered from Parkinson’s disease for 35 years, diagnosed three years after his retirement in 1981. Atlas, 68, believes Fury is afraid of retiring but hopes the British star will cope without boxing.

“Yes [Tyson Fury fears retirement] because I think boxing stabilizes his life. I have huge respect for Tyson Fury. “I think he’s an amazing fighter and a great symbol,” he continued. “I think he’s scared [to retire]because I think having that in his life, having the box, the structure of the box, the discipline, the people around him at camp, it’s a reason to get up every day and be powerful. He’s shrewd, he’s not stupid. He is very shrewd. I think he realizes that it’s critical in his life, but at some point he has to learn to live without the facilitate of boxing.

“It’s kind of like when you stop doing drugs or you stop drinking. Whatever it is. You have a sponsor, you have someone who is with you, and he goes to meetings with you and meets with you every day whenever you feel like it. He’s getting a little frail. He’s there for you, that person. But one day he may not be there. The day must come when it will be just you. And that day has come. He realized that he was shrewd and could do it. forever box I think he’s worried about losing this guy who isn’t there to tell him “you can be powerful” and “you gotta be powerful, dude.” I think he’s worried about it and I don’t blame him. and I pray for him that he will find his way without boxing.

Terence Crawford reacted sharply to Canelo Alvarez after the Mexican criticized his biography.

According to ESPN, Canelo and Crawford are approaching a gigantic fight, which is scheduled to take place on Mexican Independence Day weekend in Las Vegas in September. Mike Coppinger.

Unified super middleweight champion Alvarez had previously downplayed a clash with Crawford, who fights in two weight classes below him.

However, after both men met Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh in London last week, they are now on track to meet later this year, with Crawford expected to move up to 168 pounds to face the 34-year-old.

In recent days, comments from Alvarez, who defeated Edgar Berlanga in September, have resurfaced on social media, stemming from an interview with TMZ Sports in September 2023, where he stated that “Bud” only has one standout win over Errol Spence Jr.

“I respect Terence Crawford,” the 34-year-old said.

“He is a very talented fighter, but he only won one gigantic fight.

“If you look at his record, you only beat one good guy [which] Errol Spence is.

“Other than that, I don’t think he beat other great fighters like Spence.

“He did a really good job with Spence, he made everything look very basic.

“But I knew Terence Crawford was a great fighter.”

The Omaha native has recorded one win since defeating Spence, winning the WBA super welterweight title unanimous decision in the case of Israil Madrimov in August to match Alvarez’s feat of becoming world champions in four weight classes.

Crawford responded to the comments in a post about himself X account, warning his rival about his history of making elite fighters look ordinary.

“Lol, that’s crazy!

“So not every fighter I’ve fought is good, but one?

lol, that’s crazy! So every fighter I’ve fought isn’t good, but one? Excellent! Just remember what you said, because I’ve always enjoyed making someone look like no one. 😉

— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) January 19, 2025

“Excellent! Just remember what you said, because I always enjoyed making someone look like nobody’s business.”

Canelo is expected to defend his belts in May in Las Vegas, although no opponent has been finalized yet and it is unclear whether Crawford will fight before facing the Mexican champion.