Gorilla Jones
| Gorilla Jones | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | William Jones |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Born |
May 12, 1906 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Died | 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 Landon Jones (1906–1982) known as "Gorilla" Jones, was an American boxer and twice NBA Middleweight Boxing Champion of the World. Jones was never knocked out although he himself won by 52 knockouts out of 101 wins over 141 total fights.[1]
Early life
Jones was an African American man born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 12, 1906. He dropped out of school but eventually started boxing at age 18. He was 1.75m (5' 9") tall and weighed 145 pounds.
Career
Jones turned professional in 1923 with Stephen "Suey" Welch as manager and trained with Joe Stanley.[1] He 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 Frenchman Marcel Thil through disqualification. But his greatest success came in 1932 when he twice won the NBA Middleweight Boxing Championship of the World (against Oddone Piazza and Young Terry). In 1933 he lost the IBU Middleweight World Championship against Marcel Thil and won the NBA Middleweight Championship of America against Sammy "Kid" Slaughter by KO.[1]
In 1937 he took on Freddie Steele, the National Boxing Association World Middleweight and NYSAC World Middleweight Title holder, but lost to a decision.
His last win was two years later in 1939, and he lost his last fight in 1940, when he retired from boxing.[2]
Although he was nicknamed "Gorilla" for his exceptional reach,[3] Jones is to be distinguished from the original "Gorilla Jones", who campaigned from 1913 to 1924 and held the World Colored Welterweight title.
Later life
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 worked for Mae West whom he had known since he was 22, becoming her chauffeur and bodyguard. West was his employer, friend and supporter until her death in 1980.
"Among West's other boyfriends was boxing champion William Jones, nicknamed Gorilla Jones. When the management at her Ravenswood apartment building barred the African-American boxer from entering the premises, West solved the problem by buying the building and lifting the ban." Excerpt from: http://oswest.homestead.com/Chickadee/MaeWest/MaeWest.html
Death
Jones died from arteriosclerosis on January 4, 1982 in Los Angeles, California, aged 75.[1]
Honours
Jones was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.[3]