During my interview with unique super featherweight talent Otha Jones III, he told me that he was a 'different breed' from most boxers. Quite a statement from such a young man whose foray into the unforgiving industry was encouraged by the success of a friend who became an internet sensation.
Twelve years ago, an online video surfaced of a 5-year-old boy in a boxing ring, the captivating clip showed the boy hitting the pads with breath-taking speed and unerring accuracy. A young Otha Jones III can be seen watching on as Wayne Lawrence, or 'Pretty Boy Bam Bam' as he became known, wowed online viewers with the YouTube clip of his mesmerizing skills.
'Pretty Boy Bam Bam' became famous almost overnight, appearing on various television shows including The Ellen DeGeneres show. It was enough to stir something in Otha and make him want to replicate the success and the notability, "Yeah, it was the attention and being that competitive kid, I wanted more views and things like that."
Even a dinosaur like me can appreciate the influence that applications like YouTube can have, but usually the origin of such a rousing effect is found through hits from Leonard, Hearns, and Hagler or other such boxing royalty. Those are the ones that normally are a source of inspiration and not the pursuit of hits of the YouTube variety and the fame that is associated with it.
Whatever the initial motivation was, the 20-year-old combatant has clearly made the most of his abundant talent, having moved to 5-0 after signing with Matchroom boxing US. Of the deal made with promoter Eddie Hearn, he said, "I told my manager I was ready to turn professional, you know, I was down with the amateurs, we had a couple of choices and Matchroom was the best one, I went with it, and now I'm 5-0."
Otha Jones III knows Hearn will have a plan and he is expecting to be a busy fighter in the coming months, he added, "He (Eddie) said 5 or 6 fights a year and I'm rolling with it, I'm cool, I'm hoping it's a good plan."
There is one aspect of Otha's life that runs parallel to his professional boxing career and deserves greater acclaim than is attributed, and that is his impact within his own community in Toledo. Along with his father and brother, he runs a gym on the south side of the city, offering opportunities for youngsters in a way that only boxing gyms can. It indicates, that behind the outwardly confident bravado that accompanies the American, there is a keen desire to ensure he gives something back, using his profile and influence to help others.
My initial scepticism that surrounded a boxer who appeared to be enticed into the sport by the murky allure of the media, soon dissipated when I learned of his willingness to positively impact the misguided youth from his own city. It is commendable given that many professional boxers only consider such a move when their career is on a downward trajectory or towards the end of their own journey. Asked about the motivation behind the gym on the south side of Toledo Ohio, he said, "Me, my dad and my brother, we run a gym on the south side of Toledo, Ohio, we try to get kids from all over the city and try to help the community, we have been running for ten years now."
"I lost some very close friends to the street, so I just wanted to keep as many kids off the street as I can, you know, so those heartbreaks won't happen. I just do as much as I can to stop things like that."
It is a sobering thought that some communities who are without such a facility, will see the continuation of youngsters engaging in a perpetual cycle of crime and all of its consequences.
At the tender age of 20, Jones III is already becoming a reputable role model and will hope that his own career can act as a template for those he is attempting to mould in the gym who dare to dream. From winning multiple national titles as an amateur, he now has 5 professional wins, 2 coming inside the distance.
Otha Jones' potential inside the ring is unquestionable, but he is also becoming a shrewd social media operator, exemplifying the benefits of utilising tools that can accompany the undoubted talent he possesses. The unbeaten American has built up a healthy army of fans, many of whom are from the UK. It is a strategy that despite it's obvious advantages, many boxers choose to neglect. Without labouring too much on the subject of YouTube and its advocates, KSI and Logan Paul have shown that-however much the ardent boxing fan may dislike the idea of using the platform to sell a fight-the fact is that it is a formula that works and should be implemented a little more. Jones doesn't use his profile and platform to just promote himself, but everybody involved within his team, "I advertise myself, I advertise my gym and I advertise my teammates, boxers, they just don't do that, they just stay to themselves mostly, but me? I'm a different breed, I get my family, my friends and my gym out there.
The young brawler from Toledo has certainly made the most of the rapport he has struck up with UK fight fans, even performing at The York Hall, Bethnal Green in 2019, where he stopped Michael Horabin in round one. A UK following coupled with the obvious connections with Eddie Hearn made the possibility a reality and the exciting prospect, who exhibited his athletic ability with a spectacular backflip in celebration, didn't rule out a return visit. "It was a very good experience, you know, all of my fans in the UK are great, on Instagram I have more London fans than in the United States. It was really good to see my fans, the arena was electrifying, and I loved it. If they asked me to fight in London again, I would go there right now. The fans were so loud, that was the main thing I noticed, I loved it!"
Despite the early promise and success, there is no doubt that making inroads in the super featherweight or lightweight division (depending on where he settles) will be difficult, especially given the talent that resides within those pools of fighters, "The130lbs division is a really popular weight class right now, the smaller weight classes are killing it now for me." Pressed further on how he feels the lightweight landscape looks, he added, "Right now, the best for me is Devin Haney, he's a world champion, he has a good jab, his pace is real good, out of all those guys I see, I think Devin Haney is the best right now I don't think any of those guys can beat him." Not one to avoid a direct question or appear indecisive, the 20-year-old also offered his opinion on the upcoming lightweight battle between Ryan Garcia and Luke Campbell by saying, "I'm looking forward to that fight, I have my money on Ryan Garcia by knockout, it won't go past the sixth round."
Tales of sparring former world champion Tony Harrison, who is a super welterweight operator outlines the seriousness of Jones' ambition and confidence and whereas sparring bigger fighters isn't always his preferred plan, it was an opportunity that he refused to pass up. "Sparring Tony was great, a really phenomenal experience. I don't usually spar that heavy, I just wanted to get that work because he's a world champion, that world champion work is different so I really wanted to, even though the weight difference was like that."
As with many things, time will be the only judge or accurate barometer with regards to whether Otha Jones III is destined for great things, but his initial, seemingly bombastic claim of being 'a different breed of boxer' now appears difficult to challenge.
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