Paul Jones | |
---|---|
Statistics | |
Real name | Paul Jones |
Nickname(s) | Silky |
Weight(s) | Light Middleweight, Middleweight, Super Middleweight |
Nationality | British |
Born |
Sheffield, England |
19 November 1966
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 44 |
Wins | 31 |
Wins by KO | 11 |
Losses | 12 |
Draws | 1 |
No contests | 0 |
Paul "Silky" Jones (born 19 November 1966 in Sheffield, England), is former World Boxing Champion, known as Silky for his quickness, truly unpredictable skills and defensive prowess. He has a professional record of 31-12-1(15 KOs) in the welterweight, light-middleweight, middleweight, and super middleweight divisions. He defeated rugged American Verno Phillips for the Light Middleweight World Championship on 22 November 1995 and was stripped of the title in February 1996, Philips would go on to achieve World Championship status another three times.
Jones turned pro in 1986, aged 20 winning his first professional bout against Paul Gillings. Paul then had 4 more fights before moving to Toronto (Canada) to gain some top experience where he had 3 winning bouts including a stunning 3rd-round KO at the hands of Tony Collier. Paul then returned to the UK and had 8 more fights against respectable fighters before winning his first title against Jason Rowe. After the fight Jones was quoted as being happy for winning the title but said he wound never defend it as he was going on to bigger and better things. On 14 April Jones won the WBO's Intercontinental title against Damien Denny, winning him the "KO of the year award". This then placed Jones as number 2 in the WBO rankings. Jones then defended this title twice. Jones was in the form of his life and was unbeaten for more the 3 years.
Next up was what he had been waiting for; a shot at the champion. Jones went into the fight the heavy underdog but surprised the boxing world by dominated the fight capturing the WBO Light Middleweight Title in 1995 with a majority decision win over Future IBF Light Middle Weight Champ and future IBHOF Champion Verno Phillips. With the win, Jones became the first British-born Light Middleweight World Champion. "Freddie King" (Paul's trainer) said after the fight he "Showed glimpses of absolute greatness and produced a great fight". Jones joined close friend and boxer Naseem Hamed as Sheffield's second world champion at the time and who was also ringside for the fight he said "Silkys's done the business tonight what a fight I knew he would win but not so easily".