Gorilla Jones
| Gorilla Jones | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | William Landon Jones |
| Nickname(s) | Gorilla |
| Rated at | Middleweight |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Reach | 75 in (191 cm) |
| Nationality |
 American
|
| Born |
May 12, 1906 Memphis, Tennessee |
| Died | January 4, 1982 (aged 75) Los Angeles, California |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 144 |
| Wins | 104 |
| Wins by KO | 55 |
| Losses | 25 |
| Draws | 13 |
| No contests | 3 |
William Landon Jones (1906–1982) known as "Gorilla" Jones, was an American boxer who held the NBA Middleweight Boxing Championship of the World. Although he was nicknamed "Gorilla" for his exceptional reach, Jones is to be distinguished from the original "Gorilla Jones", who campaigned from 1913 to 1924 and held the World Colored Welterweight title. Jones was never knocked out although he himself won by 52 knockouts out of 101 wins over 141 total fights. He was posthumously inducted into World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994 and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2009.
Jones was an African American man born in Memphis, Tennessee on May 12, 1906. He dropped out of school and eventually started boxing at age 18.
Jones turned professional in 1923 with Stephen "Suey" Welch as manager and trained with Joe Stanley. 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.
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.
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 also worked for Mae West whom he had known since he was 22, becoming her boyfriend, chauffeur and bodyguard. West was his employer, friend and supporter until her death in 1980.
Jones died from arteriosclerosis on January 4, 1982 in Los Angeles, California, aged 75.
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