Gorilla Jones

Gorilla Jones
Born	William Jones May 12, 1906 Memphis, Tennessee
Died	January 4, 1982(1982-01-04) (aged 75)
Nationality	American
Statistics
Weight(s)	Middleweight
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 Honky Killer, 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

• Boxing record for Gorilla Jones from BoxRec (registration required)