Amari Jones will face Vincenzo Gualtieri in a 12-round IBF middleweight title eliminator tonight, Friday, May 22, 2026, at the SAP Center in San Jose, California. The stakes for this Golden Boy Promotions event are incredibly high, as the winner will put themselves in line to compete for the vacant IBF middleweight championship. This world title opportunity opened up recently following Janibek Alimkhanuly’s failed drug test, which forced the belt to be vacated.
For Amari “The Reaper” Jones, this headlining act in San Jose is a significant step toward elite contention. The 24-year-old Oakland native has built a perfect 16-0 professional record with 14 knockouts since his debut in 2021. Jones, who trains with Virgil Hunter in Hayward, brings an 88% knockout ratio into the ring. He most recently stopped Luis Arias in four rounds this past February, and a victory tonight would solidify his position as the IBF’s No. 4 ranked middleweight.
Vincenzo Gualtieri, known as “Il Capo,” enters the ring as a former IBF middleweight world champion looking to regain his crown. The 33-year-old from Wuppertal, Germany, offers a veteran challenge that Jones has yet to experience. While Jones is the heavy betting favorite at -1430, Gualtieri’s experience in world title bouts makes him a dangerous hurdle. This crossroads fight mirrors the tension seen when Richard Torrez Jr. and Frank Sanchez met in their own high-stakes eliminator.
How to watch Jones vs. Gualtieri on DAZN
DAZN will broadcast the entire fight card live worldwide. The streaming platform offers two subscription tiers: a Standard package and an Ultimate package. The Ultimate tier includes all pay-per-view events at no additional cost, while Standard subscribers can access more than 185 fights annually. Fans can use the DAZN app on various platforms including Smart TVs, Fire TV, Roku, and mobile devices.
The main card is scheduled to begin at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT). For those specifically tuning in for the headliner, main event ringwalks are expected to take place at approximately 11:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. PT). However, schedule shifts are common in boxing depending on the pace of the undercard. Much like the anticipation surrounding Anthony Olascuaga and Andy Dominguez in their recent Bay Area appearance, local support for Jones is expected to be high.
Tickets for the event at the SAP Center have been available since April 24, with prices starting at $30 and reaching $150 for floor seats. Golden Boy Promotions also offered a VIP Experience for fans seeking exclusive merchandise and fight night upgrades. The venue, often referred to as “The Shark Tank,” provides a massive stage for Jones to showcase whether his power can translate against a former world titleholder.
Full fight card and weigh-in results
At the official weigh-ins, Amari Jones tipped the scales at 159.2 lbs, while Vincenzo Gualtieri weighed in at 158.2 lbs. The co-main event features a cruiserweight clash between Robin Sirwan Safar and Yamil Alberto Peralta Jara, both weighing exactly 199.0 lbs. They will battle for the WBC Silver cruiserweight title over 12 rounds. This deep card provides plenty of action while fans await news on larger bouts like the potential Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua clash later this year.
The undercard is filled with a variety of weight classes and developing talent. Super middleweight Darius Fulghum (168.8 lbs) faces Yoanki Urrutia in a 10-rounder, while Tristan Kalkreuth takes on Marco Antonio Canedo in a cruiserweight bout. Other scheduled matches include Jordan Fuentes vs. Dante Paris Ibarra Hernandez at bantamweight and a 10-round middleweight bout featuring Jordan Panthen.
- Robin Sirwan Safar vs. Yamil Alberto Peralta Jara (Cruiserweight – 12 rounds)
- Darius Fulghum vs. Yoanki Urrutia (Super Middleweight – 10 rounds)
- John Ramirez vs. Lucas Emanuel Fernandez (Junior Bantamweight – 10 rounds)
- Jordan Panthen vs. [TBA] (Middleweight – 10 rounds)
- Tristan Kalkreuth vs. Marco Antonio Canedo (Cruiserweight – 8 rounds)
- Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu vs. Adrian Herrera (Junior Bantamweight – 8 rounds)
- Jordan Fuentes vs. Dante Paris Ibarra Hernandez (Bantamweight – 6 rounds)
- Jose Medrano Jr. vs. Anel Dudo (Junior Lightweight – 4 rounds)
Darius Fulghum enters his bout looking to maintain momentum in the super middleweight division. Meanwhile, John Ramirez (114.8 lbs) and Lucas Emanuel Fernandez provide significant depth to the junior bantamweight portion of the evening. These bouts set the stage for a night that could redefine the mandatory rankings for the IBF middleweight division.
Frequently Asked Questions
What world title is at stake in the main event?
There is no world title being contested tonight. Instead, the fight is a 12-round IBF middleweight title eliminator. The winner becomes the official mandatory challenger to fight for the vacant IBF middleweight championship, which was recently stripped from Janibek Alimkhanuly.
What were the official weights for Jones and Gualtieri?
Amari Jones weighed in at 159.2 lbs for the contest. His opponent, Vincenzo Gualtieri, weighed in slightly lighter at 158.2 lbs. Both fighters successfully made the middleweight limit for their 12-round eliminator bout.
What time will the Amari Jones fight actually start?
The main card begins at 8:00 p.m. ET (5:00 p.m. PT) on DAZN. The main event ringwalks for Jones and Gualtieri are estimated to occur at 11:00 p.m. ET (8:00 p.m. PT), though this can vary based on the duration of the seven undercard fights.
