Former Football Player Now Pro Prizefighter
Just how do you turn former pigskin players into power punchers?
The All-American Heavyweights (AAH) training at The Rock in Carson, California are quickly building their own dynasty in churning out the heavies taking their place in the boxing ring.
One up-and-comer is new pro Jonathan Hamm, weighing in at 6′ 7″ and 248 pounds.
From pigskin to pugilism, from the football field to the boxing ring, this heavy hitter plans to keep on punching. The AAH program was founded by the famed King World Productions’ Michael King. In the gym, Hamm has been working with elite coaches like U.S. Olympic Gold Medalist Henry Tillman, veterans in boxing like Kronk Gym’s Prentiss Byrd, all the while getting quality sparring with many champions and contenders putting in work at The Rock.
Sporting long dreadlocks and a long reach, the young slugger nicknamed “Beauty Salon” has been keeping busy after making his pro debut on September 28 at All Star Promotions’ show at the Quiet Cannon in Montebello. Promoter Ed Holmes and matchmaker Pete Hironaka have noticed Jonathan’s crowd-pleasing style and showcased his bout on the boxing and Muay Thai event over the weekend.
Fighting in his third pro bout this past Saturday on All Star’s “Mixed Combat 3” show at the famed Bonaventure Hotel, Hamm captured his third victory–and his #3 KO as a pro.
But this latest clash caught Jon by surprise as he was deposited on the canvas for the first time.
Scheduled for four rounds, Atlanta, Georgia’s Hamm faced Murrieta’s Anthony Hinson, making his pro debut. The two engaged the crowd from the opening bell, thrilling the audience of 1,200 with a rough-and-tough rumble. Fists flying, braids flopping, and three knockdowns later, Hamm vs. Hinson was, arguably, the fans’ choice for “Fight of the Night.”
Hinson came out charging at the bell looking to score an early win and catching Hamm off guard. The towering ex-football player was knocked down by a hard right from his opponent. The shot admittedly woke him up and Jonathan’s fury took over. Both had their moments in the three rounds of swinging that had the crowd literally on their feet and screaming for more. Hamm scored his own knockdown, later flattening Hinson a second time before referee Wayne Hedgepeth called a halt to the bout thus giving Jon his third W in three months.
Welcome to the pros, “Beauty Salon”!
After this match, I caught up with Hamm to hear his thoughts on the weekend battle.
In our exclusive chat, the ex-New Orleans Saints player talks about transitioning from football to amateur boxing and all the way to the pro ranks. For Saturday’s scrap, he weighed in at 248 (down from his NFL weight of 295).
With a world championship title as his goal, the athlete says he will continue working hard, honing his craft in the sweet science. Working with head trainer Jamal Abdullah, Henry Tillman and Chuck Washington, The Rock boxer is quickly gaining attention from local fans, worldwide 
celebrities (rapper 50 Cent sponsors him) and much to his liking, mainstream (female) admirers. Meet Jonathan “Beauty Salon” Hamm!
Michele Chong: Hi Jon, congratulations on your fight. He really caught you by surprise in the first few seconds…
Jonathan Hamm: Thanks, Michele! Yes, I was very surprised how aggressive and strong he was. But my game plan was to let him punch himself out and capitilize off his conditioning and I felt good about my performance.
MC: And it was also your first knockdown. Your team said it was a learning lesson and can only help you learn and grow as a fighter.
JH: I wasn’t ever really hurt; it was a flash knockdown. But because I never been hurt before, now I know I can rebound through the fire. He caught me by surprise and hit me on the back of my head.
MC: After the knockdown, it really fired you up.
JH: Yeah, I started out a little slow but then I did get really fired up and got to show my best punch–my uppercut. And there were so many people there; that was the biggest crowd I’ve ever fought in front of and I loved it!
MC: So you were signed by the Saints and now you’re boxing. What’s the transition been like for you?
JH: Oh first and foremost, I gotta say boxing is THE most difficult sport there is! Boxing is really a lifestyle. Everything I do reflects in the ring–what I eat, sleep, walk, talk, dealing with women, everything correlates to boxing. You really put your life on the line and I’m way more nervous boxing than I was playing football.
In the NFL, you get vacations. If you’re tired, you can tap your helmet and get subbed out. And in the beginning when I started to box, it was so tough. But 20-30 years later, I didn’t want to have regrets that I didn’t continue. You put so much into it, you wanna get something out of it. Then in the amateurs I was ranked #1 in the nation and won a lot of tournaments and was the alternate runner-up to Dominic Breazeale in the Olympics. I didn’t go to London since I wanted to turn pro immediately after that. I’m competitive by nature so it’s been a great challenge.
MC: I can tell you really love it now.
JH: (Laughs) Yes…Winning a fight is like winning the Lottery! That’s how it feels to me; it’s great.
MC: How are you adjusting to the pro style versus amateur rules, head gear and bigger gloves?
JH: The pros are a much “slower” pace. In the amateurs, you have to build up points, really pile up points. So the speed of the game is different. Now I can get comfortable, sit down on my punches and make the punches really mean something.
MC: You’re on track keeping busy with a fight a month…
JH: Yes and all my wins have been by KO. My pro debut was a third round KO, my second fight in Charlotte, North Carolina was a first round KO and Saturday’s was a third round KO. I’d love to have 12 fights in my first year. I really want to be heavyweight champion of the world.
MC: Did you watch Seth Mitchell’s upset loss to Johnathon Banks? Of course, Seth is also a former football player turned boxer.
JH: I did see it! That was a big surprise he lost. He was one of our biggest hopes who showed a lot of promise in the heavyweight division. After that, it motivated me for my fight. I want my chance too and it made me think maybe it’s my time.
MC: You are quickly gaining a big fan base. So tell me how you got your nickname “Beauty Salon”?
JH: (Laughs) Well…I used to have “issues” with my hair. In the beginning when I was training during breaks between rounds instead of drinking water I would go to the mirror and fix my hair. (Laughs) So they started saying, “Hey Beauty Salon”! At first I hated that nickname. It eventually stuck and now I like it. It also derived from that plus my “pretty boy” persona.
MC: (Laughs) So no more “hair issues”?
JH: My dreadlocks are no problem in fights; I put my hair in a ponytail!
MC: I’ve also noticed since your pro debut, your legion of fans is growing. Many thought your bout was the “Fight of the Night.”
JH: Oh wow, that’s awesome. I wanna thank 50 Cent and SK Energy Drinks for sponsoring me. Also I want all the ladies to enjoy watching “Beauty Salon,” because I do it for y’all.
MC: When is your next fight?
JH: I’m fighting on Dec 15 in Culver City under the All Star Promotions card. And I definitely wanna encourage all the ladies to come see me fight. I’ll give a good show. Come see why I’m called “Beauty Salon”!
MC: (Laughs) After your win Saturday night, do you get a break from training?
JH: I get a short break, yes. I’m going home to Atlanta and will be back on Monday. I get to go home for Thanksgiving!
MC: Have a great holiday, Jon. Congrats on your fight again and thanks for your time!
JH: Thanks and thank you very much for doing this story too!
In his 20s, Hamm has been with The Rock since 2009. The athlete and part-time actor had 42 amateur fights and looks to be on a smooth bridge to the pro ranks.
I watched his pro debut and witnessed his fight Saturday night; now fans have seen the quick study finding success in the pros. Likable, funny and ambitious, Hamm aims on making a name for himself and continuing on the ladder, hopefully earning a shot at a world title fight in the future.
Keep your eye on Jonathan “Beauty Salon” Hamm in the ring. Hair issues now put aside, the dreadlocked boxer aims to stay busy in the sweet science.
Photos courtesy of Team Beauty Salon, Ryan Jackson and Peter Politanoff