Amari Jones (16-0, 14 KOs) headlines a Golden Boy Promotions card on May 22 in San Jose, taking on former world champion Vincenzo Gualtieri (25-1-1, 8 KOs) in a pivotal middleweight clash.
Jones, 23, enters the bout unbeaten at 16-0 with 14 knockouts and currently holds the No. 4 position in the IBF rankings. Fresh off a win over Luis Arias, the rising prospect now steps up significantly in competition as he faces a former titleholder for the first time in his career.
Gualtieri, ranked No. 5 by the IBF, captured the middleweight title in 2023 by defeating Esquiva Falcao before losing it in a unification bout against Janibek Alimkhanuly. Since that defeat, he has rebuilt momentum with four consecutive victories and now targets a return to world title contention.
Both fighters have clear stakes heading into the matchup. Jones views the bout as an opportunity to prove himself at a higher level, while Gualtieri aims to re-establish himself as a champion. With the IBF title currently vacant, the winner is expected to move into a strong position for a future title shot.
Fight card:
▪️Amari Jones vs. Vincenzo Gualtieri, 12 rounds, middleweight
