[3] On November 9, 1996, Jones began her professional boxing career, beating Deirdre Rodriguez by a four-round split decision in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
In her fifth fight, August 14, 1997, she suffered her first professional defeat, when she boxed Para Draine at Worley, Idaho, losing a four-round unanimous decision.
Jones became a world champion and, at the same time, the only person to defeat Arnold as a professional, with a seventh-round knockout win in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
On March 24, 1998, she claimed the WIBF world Bantamweight title with a fourth-round knockout of Cheryll Robinson.
Jones became world Bantamweight champion for the second time, when she defeated Brown by a ten-round decision, in Bossier City, Louisiana.