JONES VS. GUALTIERI FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 21 May 2026
FRIDAY, MAY 22 AT SAP CENTER IN SAN JOSE, CALIF., STREAMING LIVE WORLDWIDE ON DAZN
TICKETS AVAILABLE VIA TICKETMASTER.COM
SAN JOSE, Calif. (May 20, 2026) — Golden Boy Promotions made a splash in San Jose today with a press conference kicking off fight week for the highly anticipated DAZN headlining debut of undefeated knockout artist Amari "The Reaper" Jones (16-0, 14 KOs), who will perform in front of his hometown Bay Area fans against former world champion Vincenzo "Il Capo" Gualtieri (25-1-1) of Germany on Friday, May 22, in a 12-round middleweight IBF eliminator at SAP Center. The event will stream live worldwide on DAZN.
Tickets for Jones vs. Gualtieri are still available and are priced at $150, $100, $75, $50, and $30, plus applicable fees. A limited number of Golden Boy VIP Experience packages will also be available and include exclusive merchandise and premium fight night upgrades. Standard and VIP tickets can be purchased at Ticketmaster or Golden Boy Promotions.
In the co-main event, undefeated cruiserweight Robin Safar (19-0, 13 KOs) will challenge for the WBC Silver cruiserweight title against Buenos Aires, Argentina’s Yamil Peralta (18-1-1, 10 KOs) in a 12-round showdown. Peralta will be making his U.S. debut after capturing multiple regional titles and previously challenging for the WBC interim cruiserweight title.
Also featured on the televised DAZN card, rising super middleweight contender Darius Fulghum (14-1-1, 12 KOs) will compete in a 10-round bout against Miami-based Yoanki Urrutia (17-2, 7 KOs). Opening the card, Las Vegas’ Tristan Kalkreuth (16-1, 11 KOs) returns in a 10-round cruiserweight clash against Michoacán, Mexico’s Marco Canedo (8-3-1, 5 KOs).
On the preliminary card, Fresno, California’s Jordan Fuentes (6-0, 2 KOs) will compete in a six-round super flyweight bout against an opponent to be announced. Salinas, California’s Jose Medrano (2-0, 1 KO) will take on Aurora, Colorado’s Anel Dudo (4-8-1, 1 KO) in a four-round super featherweight fight. Jordan Panthen, known as “The Patriot,” will fight for the WBA Intercontinental middleweight title in a 10-round bout against Jean Rivera (10-2, 1 KO) of San Juan, Puerto Rico. Los Angeles’ John "Scrappy" Ramirez (16-1, 9 KOs) will face Rosario, Argentina’s Lucas Fernandez (14-4-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round super flyweight contest. Opening the evening, Los Angeles’ Enkhmandakh Kharkhuu (7-0, 3 KOs) will square off against Jalisco, Mexico’s Adrian Herrera (10-4, 8 KOs) in an eight-round flyweight matchup.
Here is what the fighters had to say:
AMARI JONES:
“I train every fight like I’m fighting for a world title. I don’t cut corners. Vincenzo has experience, but that’s all he has over me. I don’t feel like he’s better than me or more skilled than me. Friday night, I’m going to prove that.”
“There’s no better way to prove myself than against a former world champion. People already believe in me, but now it’s time to solidify myself in this division and show that I deserve a world title shot.”
“It’s a blessing to headline in the Bay Area. I’ve been putting in all the work, coming off back-to-back knockouts, and I feel like I earned this opportunity.”
“Friday night, I’m going to show everybody why Golden Boy is so high on me and why they’re backing me like this.”
VINCENZO GUALTIERI:
“It’s a great opportunity for me to move forward and become a world champion again.”
“I’ve fought a lot of champions and been in big fights before. Friday night, Amari is fighting someone who has already been there.”
ROBIN SAFAR:
“I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time. That’s one of the biggest reasons I signed with Golden Boy because I knew they could push me into these opportunities.”
“I’ve been doing this for 15 years. I sacrificed being away from my family overseas for this sport. This is what God put me on Earth to do, and on Friday night I’m going to make a statement.”
“That belt is motivation. I came here to take that belt.”
“I always come to fight. I show my boxing skills, my speed, my power, and usually I get the knockout. Maybe we get another one Friday night.”
YAMIL PERALTA:
“Thank you everyone for being here. I took this fight because I’ve prepared for this moment for a long time. I’m ready to show people who I am on my path toward becoming a world champion.”
DARIUS FULGHUM:
“I had a rough stretch in 2025 and 2026, and I knew I needed to reevaluate things. I told Golden Boy I want to bring a belt back to them. The 168-pound division is wide open, and I need to give myself the best opportunity possible.”
“Being in California surrounded by great talent and great coaches has been huge for me. This year, I’m here to make statements.”
“That fight with Bektemir Melikuziev was a fight I still feel like I won, but I’m still learning and gaining experience. I know I’m capable of becoming a world champion, and we’re going to make that happen.”
TRISTAN KALKREUTH:
“I’m feeling good. Everything I’ve gone through in my career and everything my team and I have been working on — now it’s time to put it all together.”
“I believe in myself, and Golden Boy believes in me, too. It feels great to be back. I appreciate Golden Boy giving me the time to be with my wife and newborn daughter, but now it’s time to show people I’m one of the best cruiserweights in the world.”
“They grow up fast. At the end of the day, you still have to go in there and put on a show.”
“By going in there and being myself. I’ve gone through a lot these past few months with my daughter being born and balancing training, but I’m ready.”
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Jones vs. Gualtieri is a 12-round IBF eliminator fight presented by Golden Boy Promotions. The fight is scheduled for Friday, May 22 at SAP Center in San Jose, Calif. and will be streamed live worldwide on DAZN.
For more information, visit www.goldenboypromotions.com and DAZN.com. Follow on Twitter @GoldenBoyBoxing and @DAZNBoxing. Become a fan on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GoldenBoy and https://www.facebook.com/DAZN. Follow on Instagram @GoldenBoy and @DAZNBoxing.
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