'So overwhelming': Community celebrates young boxer heading to 2024 Olympics

RING TO THE INTERNATIONAL STAGE, FAMILY AND FRIENDS CELEBRATED OMARI JONES. TODAY, AS THE YOUNG BOXER PREPARES TO REPRESENT TEAM USA IN THE SUMMER OLYMPICS. WESH TWO NEWS TONIGHT SHOWS US HOW JONES CENTRAL FLORIDA VILLAGE HELPED HIM WIN HIS FIGHT TO PARIS. THE FOOD, THE MUSIC, THE ENDLESS PICTURES AND OF COURSE, THE HUGS ARE. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU ALL PART OF SENDING OFF A YOUNG ORLANDO CHAMPION TO THE INTERNATIONAL BOXING RING. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT I’VE BEEN DREAMING ABOUT SINCE HE WAS EIGHT YEARS OLD. LOOK LIKE A BUTTERFLY, STING LIKE A BEE. AMARI JONES FOUND HIS ULTIMATE PASSION TO BE BOXING AFTER HIS DAD PUT HIM AND HIS BROTHERS IN KARATE. I JUST LOVE THE COMPETITIVENESS YOU GO THROUGH THE UPS AND DOWNS WITH YOUR TEAM, OF COURSE, BUT IT’S REALLY ALL THE WORK THAT YOU PUT IN. YOU GET OUT. AT 21 YEARS OLD, THE CHAMP, WHO WAS BORN AND RAISED IN PINE HILLS, IS GETTING READY TO HEAD TO PARIS. SO HE CAN REPRESENT TEAM USA IN THE SUMMER OLYMPICS. COMING FROM ORLANDO, THEM SEEING ME AS A KID, EVERYBODY IS JUST LIKE AMAZED, LIKE, WOW. LIKE HE ACTUALLY DID WHAT HE SET OUT TO DO. AMARI’S VILLAGE THREW HIM A PARTY IN OVIEDO SUNDAY, WITH IT BEING THE LAST TIME THEY’LL SEE HIM UNTIL HE RETURNS FROM PARIS. LET ME GIVE YOU ANOTHER HUG AND SEE ONE OF HIS PROUDEST FANS. I GOT TO CRY. YEAH, I’VE ALREADY. I’VE ALREADY CRIED BEFORE. IS THE MAN WHO RAISED HIM. IT FEELS GREAT RIGHT NOW. I DON’T KNOW HOW TO FEEL BECAUSE IT’S JUST SO OVERWHELMING. CARL JONES SAYS HIS SON’S DISCIPLINE AND DETERMINATION HELPED HIM MAKE IT THIS FAR. HE ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO MORE THAN WHAT’S NEEDED. IT’S THE KIND OF FIGHTS THAT OMARI HOPES WILL INSPIRE THE NEXT GENERATION. HE’S THE GREATEST OF ALL TIME. IF I CAME OUT OF ORLANDO AND DID IT, I’M SETTING A TREND AND I BELIEVE THEY CAN DO IT TOO, FOR SURE. IN ORANGE COUNTY. SENAIT GEBREGIORGIS WESH TWO NEWS. OH, THEY DO SAY IT TAKES A WHOLE VILLAGE. AND WHAT A FINE YOUNG MAN HE IS. OMARI JONES IS GOING TO LEAVE FOR THE OLYMPIC TRAINING CENTER IN COLORADO. AFTER THAT, HE WILL HEAD TO

From the Orlando boxing ring to the international stage – family and friends celebrated Omari Jones Sunday as the young boxer prepares to represent Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.Food, music, pictures and hugs were part of sending off the champion in love and joy."This is something that I've been dreaming about," Jones said.Jones found his ultimate passion in boxing at 8 years old after his parents put him and his brothers in karate."I just love the competitiveness," Jones said. "You go through the ups and downs with your team, of course, but it's really all the work that you put in and you get out."Jones, who is now 21, was born and raised in Central Florida. "Coming from Orlando, seeing me as a kid, everybody's just like amazed, like, wow. Like he actually did what he set out to do," Jones said.Jones' village threw him a party in Oviedo, Florida, which is where many of his family members were born and raised.Everyone from his grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches and teachers were there to wish him luck before the champion left for Paris.One of Jones' proudest fans is the man who raised him."It feels great right now," Karl Jones said, who is Omari Jones' father. "I don't know how to feel because it's just so overwhelming."Karl Jones said his son's discipline and determination helped him make it this far."He always strived to do more than what's needed," Karl Jones said.It's the kind of fight that Omari Jones hopes will inspire the next generation."If I came out of Orlando and did it, I'm setting a trend and I believe can do it too for sure," Jones said.Jones will leave for the Olympic training center in Colorado.He will then head to Paris to compete in July.

OVIEDO, Fla. —

From the Orlando boxing ring to the international stage – family and friends celebrated Omari Jones Sunday as the young boxer prepares to represent Team USA in the 2024 Olympics.

Food, music, pictures and hugs were part of sending off the champion in love and joy.

"This is something that I've been dreaming about," Jones said.

Jones found his ultimate passion in boxing at 8 years old after his parents put him and his brothers in karate.

"I just love the competitiveness," Jones said. "You go through the ups and downs with your team, of course, but it's really all the work that you put in and you get out."

Jones, who is now 21, was born and raised in Central Florida.

"Coming from Orlando, [my community] seeing me as a kid, everybody's just like amazed, like, wow. Like he actually did what he set out to do," Jones said.

Jones' village threw him a party in Oviedo, Florida, which is where many of his family members were born and raised.

Everyone from his grandparents, aunts, uncles, coaches and teachers were there to wish him luck before the champion left for Paris.

One of Jones' proudest fans is the man who raised him.

"It feels great right now," Karl Jones said, who is Omari Jones' father. "I don't know how to feel because it's just so overwhelming."

Karl Jones said his son's discipline and determination helped him make it this far.

"He always strived to do more than what's needed," Karl Jones said.

It's the kind of fight that Omari Jones hopes will inspire the next generation.

"If I came out of Orlando and did it, I'm setting a trend and I believe [the kids] can do it too for sure," Jones said.

Jones will leave for the Olympic training center in Colorado.

He will then head to Paris to compete in July.