- Percy Jones (boxer)
Rhondda's Percy Jones (
December 26 1892 –December 25 1922 ) became the firstWelshman ever to win a WorldBoxing Title when he took the WorldFlyweight Championship fromBill Ladbury in 1914. Appropriately born onBoxing Day , the diminutive Jones also took the British and European Flyweight Championships from Ladbury in the same match.He has been voted number 6 in a
BBC poll of Welsh boxing greats [cite news
author=
title=Wales' pugilist princes
date=2006-03-07
work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/1899436.stm
accessdate=2008-08-08]History
Raised in a
Porth coal mining family, he made his name at a local level, fighting in boxing booths, before winning the first 27 fights of his professional career. He successfully defended his World Flyweight belt once, againstEugene Criqui - a man who had beaten him six weeks before in a non-title bout. This time, with the European & World titles at stake Jones beat Criqui with a points decision over 20 rounds. Jones was knocked out in his next non-title bout byJoe Symonds and lost the belt toTancy Lee in the second defence of his titles prompting a move tobantamweight . Jones had had difficulties staying within the Flyweight weight limit. He engaged in catchweight non-title bouts; with mixed fortunes. After again fighting Criqui, this time at bantamweight, the Porth fighter never again made the flyweight limit.His last contest was a fifth round KO of the man he took the World title from,
Bill Ladbury , in 1915. In his short, illustrious career Percy Jones had reached the pinnacle of his sport and established himself as one ofWales ' finest ever boxers.The
Great War interrupted hisboxing career and Percy enlisted in theRoyal Welsh Fusiliers . He was serving as asergeant when he was badly wounded in the leg. After almost 30 operations to save the leg it was eventually amputated. Jones was also badly affected bypoison gas .He died of
trench fever in 1922 onChristmas Day , one day short of his 30th birthday.Fight record
Fights: 51 Won 45 Lost 3 Drawn 3
Notes
ee also
*
List of British flyweight boxing champions ources
*cite news
author=
title=6. Percy Jones
date=2002-04-11
work=BBC News
url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/boxing/1901382.stm
accessdate=2008-08-08
* [http://ffaith.brynmawrscene.net/index.php/Percy_Jones Ffaith]
* [http://www.johnnyowen.com/percy_jones.html johnnyowen.com]External links
* [http://www.johnnyowen.com/Recs/Fl/percy.html Fight Record]
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