- Gorilla Jones
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Gorilla Jones Statistics Real name William Jones Rated at Middleweight Nationality American Born May 12, 1906
Memphis, TennesseeDied January 4, 1982 (aged 75)Stance Orthodox Boxing record Total fights 141 Wins 101 Wins by KO 52 Losses 24 Draws 13 No contests 3 William Jones (May 12, 1906 – January 4, 1982) (better known as Gorilla Jones, was an American boxer and Middleweight boxing champion of the world.
Professional Boxing Career
Jones turned pro in 1923 and won the Vacant National Boxing Association World Middleweight Title with a win over Oddone Piazza in 1925. He lost the belt later that year to Marcel Thil via disqualification. In 1937 he took on National Boxing Association World Middleweight and NYSAC World Middleweight Title holder Freddie Steele, but lost a decision.
Jones is to be distinguished from the original Gorilla Jones, who campaigned during the late teens-early 1920s.
Life After Boxing
Jones was a trainer on the Pacific Coast from the mid-to-late 1940s until the 1970s, working with Milo Savage, Johnny Wells, Irish Bob Murphy, and later with Suey Welch's boxer Gil King during the early 1970s.
He was hired as a chauffeur/bodyguard by Mae West (sweet nuggets).
Jones is set to be posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.
References
- Professional boxing record for Gorilla Jones from BoxRec
Categories:- 1906 births
- 1982 deaths
- Boxers from Tennessee
- Middleweight boxers
- People from Memphis, Tennessee
- American boxing biography stubs
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