Otha Jones Loving the UK Love
On October 12, fast rising prospect Otha “OJ3” Jones III (3-0, 1 KO) will make his fourth professional appearance on the undercard of Usyk v Witherspoon. The fight will be staged in the Wintrust Arena located in Chicago, Illinois and aired live on the DAZN app. Jones, a native of Toledo, OH, will be gunning for his second pro knockout when he faces the challenge of Eric Manriquez (7-8-1, 3 KO’s).
Jones will be looking to further his maturation process by getting a few more rounds in under his belt. OJ3 just turned pro this year on March 9. To his delight, his Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn has successfully kept Jones extremely active. Granted, the Ohioan is not in there with world beaters just yet. Manriquez has gone 1-5 in his last six bouts.
“Yeah, Matchroom moves me fast, I like it, you know. About seven fights, seven, eight fights a year, I’m loving it […] Eddie, that’s my guy, man. I got nothing bad to say. You know, I like the way he moves his fighters and he moves me pretty well.” ~ Otha Jones III, lightweight prospect
At the current time though, Team Jones are only concerning themselves with properly acclimating to the professional ranks. They are fully cognizant of the fact that the level of competition will get much tougher very soon. Not only are they aware of this, Jones sees himself competing for a secondary title sooner rather than later. This is another rationale for why OJ3 wants to remain as busy as logically possible.
“I’m looking for a small title real soon. Yeah, you know I started off with six rounders and in about two more fights I’m looking at eight rounders.” ~Otha Jones III, lightweight prospect
Even though Jones is only seven months into his professional career, he has already amassed a significant amount of fan appeal. However, those energetic fans are generally based in the UK! It doesn’t bother Otha Jones one bit that his most vibrant accolades are originating overseas. The amateur standout is simply happy to get the support period. Yet, on Saturday October 12, Jones is focused on toppling Manriquez in impressive fashion and ratcheting his American buzz up another notch.
“That’s so crazy because on InstaGram I get way more love on InstaGram in the UK than the US, I swear, I swear to God…it’s weird, I would have thought I would have got more US followers but all my followers on InstaGram are really from the UK. I swear […] when I was at the hotel in London a lot of people ‘oh how you doing?!’ I was like ‘what? I’m really a celebrity! I got to move down here man!’ I love it!” ~Otha Jones III, lightweight prospect
3kingsboxing will continue to follow and report on the talented Otha “OJ3” Jones III rise through the rankings.
By: Bakari Simpson
