BoxRec

NEW YORK (March 8, 2019)-21-time National Champion, Otha Jones III will make his much anticipated pro debut when he takes on Giorgi Gelashvili in a four-round super lightweight contest on Saturday night.

The bout will take place at the Turning Stone Resort Casino in Verona, New York, and will be streamed live on DAZN beginning at 7 PM ET.

In Gelashvili, Jones is jumping right into the fire as Gelashvili has a record of 5-1 with three knockouts, with the only loss coming via split-decision.

The 18 year old Toledo native was among the top talents in the United States, as he compiled a staggering 283-13 amateur record highlighted by representing Team USA in several international tournaments including winning a Gold Medal at the International Youth Continental Americas Tournament and Silver Medal at the Emil Jechev Memorial Tournament as well as winning several national tournaments such as the winning gold medals in United States National Championships (Twice) and the World Championship Qualifier.

Jones was also a four-time State Wrestling Champion.

"I'm the next cash cow and I want all the smoke. I picked my opponent. I picked the best one out of the three opponents that I was offered. I believe with my team. no one can come close to beating me," said Jones.

"This will be a great fight against super tough opponent that he and his father wanted. Everyone is very excited to witness Otha's pro debut," said David McWater of Split-T Management.

Jones checked in at 132 1/2 lbs. at Friday's weigh in while Gelashvili weighed 134 1/4 lbs

Jones is promoted by Matchroom Boxing.

How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the fornicate put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 13:52 How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the eff put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

His Am experience is not world level.

He sounds like such a modest young chap.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 14:22

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 13:52 How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the eff put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

His Am experience is not world level.

Still has international level experience
"as he compiled a staggering 283-13 amateur record highlighted by representing Team USA in several international tournaments including winning a Gold Medal at the International Youth Continental Americas Tournament and Silver Medal at the Emil Jechev Memorial Tournamen"

No reason someone with apparently 296 fights is starting in 4 round bouts.

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 15:41

KiwiRider wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 14:22

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 13:52 How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the eff put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

His Am experience is not world level.

Still has international level experience
"as he compiled a staggering 283-13 amateur record highlighted by representing Team USA in several international tournaments including winning a Gold Medal at the International Youth Continental Americas Tournament and Silver Medal at the Emil Jechev Memorial Tournamen"

No reason someone with apparently 296 fights is starting in 4 round bouts.

I get you.
6 rounds would be a good start to break the Am habits.
What I was alluding to, regarding his Am experience, would be the absence of Jr Olympian ( or better still, medalist) or world champs medal winner, and what about Jr Golden Gloves?. With so many domestic plaudits, I wonder why the above mentioned are missing
I only follow Am's at an Olympic level because it's not my scene apart from spotting potential pros.

KiwiRider wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 14:22

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 13:52 How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the eff put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

His Am experience is not world level.

Plus he’s young.

Not like he’s late 20’s

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 16:27

KiwiRider wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 14:22

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 13:52 How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the eff put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

His Am experience is not world level.

Plus he’s young.

Not like he’s late 20’s

Seriously it's the kid's pro debut. If he fights more 4/6 rounders in his subsequent fights, then you can complain, but give him a pass on his first pro fight. He'll probably not need half the scheduled rounds anyway.

Good looking kid. 19 y/o and has a lot ahead of him. Really tall SLW at 5' 10" (boxrec) but he doesn't appear that tall to me here. This is why I love BoxRec. I would've never watched any of this.

man that was one ugly ass fight

he didnt look that tall tbh

jamamb wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 16:43 man that was one ugly ass fight, and otha walked out like a b!tch

What's the matter? Not a fan of clinching and holding, tackling and rough housing?

oogiebe wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 16:29

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 16:27

KiwiRider wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 14:22

Boxing Prospect wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 13:52 How many national tournaments do they have to have a 21 time national champion? Also why the eff put such an accomplished amateur in a 4 rounder? Show some belief damn promoters!

His Am experience is not world level.

Plus he’s young.

Not like he’s late 20’s

Seriously it's the kid's pro debut. If he fights more 4/6 rounders in his subsequent fights, then you can complain, but give him a pass on his first pro fight. He'll probably not need half the scheduled rounds anyway.

Maybe this is a key reason i tend to enjoy how Japanese prospects get brought through.

They start at 6 rounders, maybe face some crap but at least are scheduled in these longer bouts. Fight less but on paper better fights (recent examples like Masahiro Suzuki's, Jin Minamide, Ginjiro Shigeoka is a similar age and had waaay less pro bouts yet began hos career in 6 rounders).

I just don't see much point in experienced amateurs having 4 round bouts, no matter their age. Strikes me as a waste of time and does little for their development.

And I'm ignoring the fact his opponent hasn't fought in over 2 years.

So philly says this 18 year old Toledo native was a four time state wrestling champion.

In what state did this happen?

Nobody named Otha Jones has won a single state wrestling championship let alone four in Ohio or Michigan.
People in the Toledo area can reside in one state while sending their children to a school in the other state so I checked both.

Perseus wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:10 So philly says this 18 year old Toledo native was a four time state wrestling champion.

In what state did this happen?

Nobody named Otha Jones has won a single state wrestling championship let alone four in Ohio or Michigan.
People in the Toledo area can reside in one state while sending their children to a school in the other state so I checked both.

This article mentions the wrestling but doesn't identify the state either, so maybe you missed something or he grew up in another state.

https://www.worldboxingnews.net/2019/01 ... jones-iii/

So you must've missed something. Jones was 4 time Ohio State wrestling champ.
Here he is in 2011.

oogiebe wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:26 So you must've missed something. Jones was 4 time Ohio State wrestling champ.
Here he is in 2011.

Thanks for the video amigo!!

You are about the only one commenting in this thread who is not cracking on the guy!!

With all the haters dissing this kid I'll be pulling extra hard for him to shut them up. He just turned 19 in January and Toledo has in recent years gradually been building a talent pool of amateur fighters.

lol.

That's biddy not ohsaa.

The article leads one to believe he was a four time state champion at a higher level.
I didn't miss anything. I did not and never would take the time to look for biddy titles.
He never won an ohsaa state championship.

Perseus wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:42 lol.

That's biddy not ohsaa.

The article leads one to believe he was a four time state champion at a higher level.
I didn't miss anything. I did not and never would take the time to look for biddy titles.
He never won an ohsaa state championship.

Time? Took me 10 seconds on youtube. It's still an accomplishment and an example of the kid's athleticism. Not sure why it meant so much to you. You some sort of wrestling snob?

Best Coast wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:41

oogiebe wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:26 So you must've missed something. Jones was 4 time Ohio State wrestling champ.
Here he is in 2011.

Thanks for the video amigo!!

You are about the only one commenting in this thread who is not cracking on the guy!!

With all the haters dissing this kid I'll be pulling extra hard for him to shut them up. He just turned 19 in January and Toledo has in recent years gradually been building a talent pool of amateur fighters.

You're Welcome compadre! Not sure why all the negativity, FFS it's his first pro fight! LMFAO! So many posters just troll threads looking for something to correct instead of adding some value. What can you do?

oogiebe wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:47

Perseus wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:42 lol.

That's biddy not ohsaa.

The article leads one to believe he was a four time state champion at a higher level.
I didn't miss anything. I did not and never would take the time to look for biddy titles.
He never won an ohsaa state championship.

Time? Took me 10 seconds on youtube. It's still an accomplishment and an example of the kid's athleticism. Not sure why it meant so much to you. You some sort of wrestling snob?

Wrestling snob?!? Good one!!

I know guys who started out wrestling as kids in freestyle competitions because most states dont have wrestling in schools until high school (age 14+).

For a 10-year-old kid those competitions are the ONLY option if they dont want to wait til high school. Otha obviously branched off into boxing by the time he was in high school.

Best Coast wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 20:02

oogiebe wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:47

Perseus wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 19:42 lol.

That's biddy not ohsaa.

The article leads one to believe he was a four time state champion at a higher level.
I didn't miss anything. I did not and never would take the time to look for biddy titles.
He never won an ohsaa state championship.

Time? Took me 10 seconds on youtube. It's still an accomplishment and an example of the kid's athleticism. Not sure why it meant so much to you. You some sort of wrestling snob?

Wrestling snob?!? Good one!!

I know guys who started out wrestling as kids in freestyle competitions because most states dont have wrestling in schools until high school (age 14+).

For a 10-year-old kid those competitions are the ONLY option if they dont want to wait til high school. Otha obviously branched off into boxing by the time he was in high school.

I wrestled in HS. These junior competitions are great. Still an accomplishment. I was thrilled to win district, much less state (the competition level was steps above). Still proud to this day.

Congrats on your wrestling achievements!! By the time Otha was a teen he had already branched off into boxing:

http://nationalsilvergloves.org/hallofchampions/?c=3

2014 NATIONAL SILVER GLOVES CHAMPIONS

112 lbs. Otha Jones, OH
119 lbs. Gabriel Flores, CA
125 lbs. Harley Medero, NY
132 lbs. Joey Spencer, MI
139 lbs. Lorenzo Simpson, MD

Best Coast wrote: ↑09 Mar 2019, 20:10 Congrats on your wrestling achievements!! By the time Otha was a teen he had already branched off into boxing:

http://nationalsilvergloves.org/hallofchampions/?c=3

2014 NATIONAL SILVER GLOVES CHAMPIONS

112 lbs. Otha Jones, OH
119 lbs. Gabriel Flores, CA
125 lbs. Harley Medero, NY
132 lbs. Joey Spencer, MI
139 lbs. Lorenzo Simpson, MD

Thanks! Have you seen him? He's listed at 5'10" but he looks so much smaller than that, I thought.

lmfao anyone who calls 'hate!' for sayng that was an ugly fight obviously never watched it. what a snow flake..same guy moaned about 'hate' just when a dndnt rave about one of his 'top amateur' prospects