SAN JOSE, Calif. (KRON) — In the biggest fight of his career, Oakland native Amari Jones showed up in scintillating fashion in front of his hometown Bay Area fans.

Jones dominated former world champion Vencenzo Gualtieri by knocking him out in the third round on Friday night at SAP Center in San Jose.

After a methodical opening two rounds, Jones dropped Gualtieri twice in the third round, scoring the first knockdown with about a minute left. About 30 seconds later, Jones landed a textbook uppercut that ended the bout.

Jones, 24, made easy work of the 33-year-old Gualtieri, who held the IBF middleweight world title in 2023. Even Jones was a bit surprised by the short night fighting the world-class veteran, saying, “I didn’t think it was going to be that quick.”

The middleweight contender said the knockout is the “best feeling,” especially fighting in his home of the Bay Area.

“It means a lot. I had to really prove, and I’m glad everybody came out and supported,” Jones said. “It showed I have a fanbase here, and we can do bigger and better things.”

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Amari Jones makes quick work of former champion Vencenzo Gualtieri with a third-round knockout at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

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Oakland native Amari Jones pins former champion Vencenzo Gualtieriagainst the ropes on Friday, May 22 at SAP Center in San Jose. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

Amari Jones pummels Vencenzo Gualtieri with a right uppercut during an IBF middleweight title eliminator on Friday, May 22 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

Amari Jones fights in front Bay Area fans in homecoming fight on Friday, May 22 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

Middleweight contender Amari Jones (17-0, 15 KOs) hails from Oakland, Calif. (Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

(Photo by Cris Esqueda/Golden Boy)

Amari Jones gives a postfight interview with KRON4 inside his dressing room at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. on Friday, May 22.

Jones signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions last year and is headlining his first show. His promoter said Jones made an “incredible statement” Friday night.

If there is anyone qualified to say who the next big superstar in boxing is, it is boxing Hall of Famer Oscar De La Hoya.

“That world title is going back to Oakland!” De La Hoya said after the fight. That’s what the “Golden Boy” thinks of Jones.

“We feel Amari Jones is the next superstar in boxing,” De La Hoya tells KRON4.

With the win, Jones is now in line to fight for the IBF middleweight world title, which is currently vacant. He may fight for the belt, perhaps by the end of the year, according to De La Hoya.

Jones looks to join the rich lineage of boxers to come out of Oakland: Andre Ward and Devin Haney.

“Oakland was once with three sports teams, now it has no sports teams. Now, I hope I’m a guy that can bring it out and bring all the people back together with the sport,” Jones said.

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