Local watch parties inspire victorious Toledo Olympian Oshae Jones

Jul. 30—Orange juice and doughnuts may not be the expected fare at Allure Hookah Lounge, but early Friday morning, the Tropicana caps came off and the Krispy Kreme box opened as locals gathered to watch their fellow Toledoan, Oshae Jones, continue her Olympic boxing journey.

Toledo fans gathered at 5 this morning to watch @JonesOshae claim quarterfinals victory over the Dominican Republic in women's welterweight boxing @toledonews #Olympics pic.twitter.com/HtrrN0hEf9

— Jordan Fitzgerald (@jordtwitzgerald) July 30, 2021

High school classmates, family, friends, and strangers to Ms. Jones convened at the Dorr Street storefront to watch Ms. Jones take on Maria Altagracia Moronta Hernandez of the Dominican Republic in the women's welterweight quarterfinals, a match the red-clad American won.

"It's not every day you see an Olympian, especially one you know," Blake Minter, an Allure employee who attended Scott High School with Ms. Jones, said. "I'm happy for her. She's been working for this for the past five years."

At her employees' request, Allure's proprietor Kevina Thomas decided to host watch parties of Ms. Jones' fights. On Tuesday, the Allure crowd watched 23-year-old Ms. Jones eke out a split decision over Mexico's Brianda Cruz to qualify for the quarterfinals.

Ms. Thomas, who is an acquaintance of the boxer's brood, said Ms. Jones' family gathered at a separate location downtown.

Alexcia Sims does not know Ms. Jones, but she still sat on one of her Allure's leather couches at 5 o'clock Friday morning — 6 p.m. Tokyo time — to catch Ms. Jones' second fight.

Ms. Jones said she appreciates the backing.

"It gives me motivation when I'm in the ring," she wrote to the Blade. "It pushes me to do better, and to become great and make history."

History lingered between the bands today. Though Ms. Jones has previously beaten Ms. Hernandez in the 2019 Pan American Games semifinals, the six Allure onlookers were not sure if Ms. Jones would come out on top again.

"It's a close fight," Ms. Thomas said as Round Two drew to a close. She and the others remarked that both fighters seemed tired.

Ms. Jones triumphed in each three-minute round of tussling and claimed a 4-0 victory over Ms. Moronta Hernandez. The Glass City southpaw shouted out to her family when she learned she would advance to the semifinals, a round away from Olympic gold.

Her next fight will take place on Wednesday, where she will compete against China's Gu Hong.

"I think she's gonna win gold. I've got faith in her," spectator Eric Hoskins said.

Ms. Jones just has one request.

"Keep the energy coming. I can feel it all the way here in Tokyo," she said.

First Published July 30, 2021, 7:19am