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In-depth interview with Colin Jones: Part One
By Terry Dooley on May 13, 2012
When talk turns to the topic of “Best British boxer to never win a world
title” the same old names come up, two of them in fact: Kirkland
Laing and Herol Graham. However, there is another British boxer who
deserved to win a world title, the man who twice flattened Kirkland
Laing in British title fights. Step forward welterweight walloper
Colin Jones, the fighting pride of Wales
Laing and Herol Graham. However, there is another British boxer who
deserved to win a world title, the man who twice flattened Kirkland
Laing in British title fights. Step forward welterweight walloper
Colin Jones, the fighting pride of Wales
Jones
was born in Gorseinon in March of 1959. Despite a profitable and
successful boxing career Jones still lives close to his place of
birth
.
After a brace of ABA title wins Jones went onto represent
Britain in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal – a loss to Victor
Zilberman in the third round of bouts ended Jones’s Olympic dreams.
Keenly aware that his hard-hitting style would be more suited to the
pros, Jones entered the paid ranks, turning over with a fifth-round
TKO of Mike Copp in 1977.
Britain in the 1976 Olympics in Montreal – a loss to Victor
Zilberman in the third round of bouts ended Jones’s Olympic dreams.
Keenly aware that his hard-hitting style would be more suited to the
pros, Jones entered the paid ranks, turning over with a fifth-round
TKO of Mike Copp in 1977.
Jones’s
route into boxing was aided, and encouraged, by his brothers Peter,
himself an ABA champion, and Ken. Jones followed his brothers into
the gym, and quickly realised that he had an aptitude for dishing out
punishment.
route into boxing was aided, and encouraged, by his brothers Peter,
himself an ABA champion, and Ken. Jones followed his brothers into
the gym, and quickly realised that he had an aptitude for dishing out
punishment.
“At
the age of nine a local club opened up and I was there the first day
it opened up,” said Jones when speaking to Britishboxers.co.uk.
“Gareth Bevan was there that first day, and was with me until I
officially retired at the age of 26. The gym was a few yards from my
house, so I just fell into it. The gym itself was a shed, one of the
old prefab ones. It was nothing new to my parents as my brothers had
boxed previously. We were a fighting family, but we didn’t fight
amongst ourselves, it was all done properly – in the gym.
the age of nine a local club opened up and I was there the first day
it opened up,” said Jones when speaking to Britishboxers.co.uk.
“Gareth Bevan was there that first day, and was with me until I
officially retired at the age of 26. The gym was a few yards from my
house, so I just fell into it. The gym itself was a shed, one of the
old prefab ones. It was nothing new to my parents as my brothers had
boxed previously. We were a fighting family, but we didn’t fight
amongst ourselves, it was all done properly – in the gym.
“Boxing
was not so much in the genes as my father was not a fighter, he did a
bit of training, but it was nothing serious, the sport was always
there though. The gym was a place where me and my brothers felt at
home.”
was not so much in the genes as my father was not a fighter, he did a
bit of training, but it was nothing serious, the sport was always
there though. The gym was a place where me and my brothers felt at
home.”
Jones
was on the wrong end of a bad decision during the 1971 Welsh
Schoolboy’s semi-final; he decided that he would have to be
ruthless, and kept to his word. He said: “The turning point in my
boxing career was when I was on the box-offs for the Welsh title. The
first time I entered the finals I was 11 and Gareth thought I was on
the wrong end of a decision, as most trainers do when they have a
good prospect.
was on the wrong end of a bad decision during the 1971 Welsh
Schoolboy’s semi-final; he decided that he would have to be
ruthless, and kept to his word. He said: “The turning point in my
boxing career was when I was on the box-offs for the Welsh title. The
first time I entered the finals I was 11 and Gareth thought I was on
the wrong end of a decision, as most trainers do when they have a
good prospect.
“We
decided that I should try knocking a few people over, but it wasn’t
a conscious decision to stop with the pitter-patter punches and
really start knocking people over, it just happened over a 12-month
period. People stopped going the distance with me, and the
championships started coming thick and fast.”
decided that I should try knocking a few people over, but it wasn’t
a conscious decision to stop with the pitter-patter punches and
really start knocking people over, it just happened over a 12-month
period. People stopped going the distance with me, and the
championships started coming thick and fast.”
Jones’
power punching took him to three British schoolboy’s crowns, the
third one came off the back of 11 consecutive stoppage wins, Jones
was on a roll, and he rolled over the opposition at the senior level.
Such was his domination over boys his age they had to draft in older
sparring partners to push Jones, Colin was not fussed; a victim was a
victim.
power punching took him to three British schoolboy’s crowns, the
third one came off the back of 11 consecutive stoppage wins, Jones
was on a roll, and he rolled over the opposition at the senior level.
Such was his domination over boys his age they had to draft in older
sparring partners to push Jones, Colin was not fussed; a victim was a
victim.
“You
get people that are freaks,” said Jones. “They are little bit
beyond their age, and I was one of them, I was hurting people at a
young age, and enjoying it. I had the right temperament for boxing,
in other words I enjoyed hurting people. I am a big believer that
boxers have got to have a split personality; the person you take into
the ring is not the same person that comes out after the fight. It is
a strength of good fighters.”
get people that are freaks,” said Jones. “They are little bit
beyond their age, and I was one of them, I was hurting people at a
young age, and enjoying it. I had the right temperament for boxing,
in other words I enjoyed hurting people. I am a big believer that
boxers have got to have a split personality; the person you take into
the ring is not the same person that comes out after the fight. It is
a strength of good fighters.”
As
Jones’s power increased so, too, did his ruthlessness, Jones left
many a twitching body in his wake, the no-nonsense Jones would often
give his stricken opponent one last belligerent look. This ruthless
attitude towards the KO has never quite left him.
Jones’s power increased so, too, did his ruthlessness, Jones left
many a twitching body in his wake, the no-nonsense Jones would often
give his stricken opponent one last belligerent look. This ruthless
attitude towards the KO has never quite left him.
“I
can honestly say that I never felt sorry when I knocked an opponent
out, and I was involved in some really nasty knockouts,” he
declared. “I realise it now but at the time it was happening I
didn’t think about the people getting hurt, and I make no apologies
for that.”
can honestly say that I never felt sorry when I knocked an opponent
out, and I was involved in some really nasty knockouts,” he
declared. “I realise it now but at the time it was happening I
didn’t think about the people getting hurt, and I make no apologies
for that.”
Jones was given the opportunity to enter the Senior ABAs at the tender age
of 16, and he grabbed his chance with both fists. He said: “I was
allowed into the senior ABAs at sixteen. I was due to turn 17 in the March, the championships started in January, so by the time
the finals came around I was 17, that meant that I was very
young going into the British finals.
of 16, and he grabbed his chance with both fists. He said: “I was
allowed into the senior ABAs at sixteen. I was due to turn 17 in the March, the championships started in January, so by the time
the finals came around I was 17, that meant that I was very
young going into the British finals.
“The
ABA wins meant that I had virtually qualified for the Olympic games.
There was another obstacle of having to box an American at Wembley,
and I got over that little hurdle as well. That got me my ticket for
the Games.”
ABA wins meant that I had virtually qualified for the Olympic games.
There was another obstacle of having to box an American at Wembley,
and I got over that little hurdle as well. That got me my ticket for
the Games.”
Until
Amir Khan came along Jones held the distinction of being the youngest
Brit to qualify for the Games, in retrospect Jones accepts that he
was a little bit too young at the time. “Now I know I was too
young,” recalled Jones.
Amir Khan came along Jones held the distinction of being the youngest
Brit to qualify for the Games, in retrospect Jones accepts that he
was a little bit too young at the time. “Now I know I was too
young,” recalled Jones.
“As
you get older you realise just how young you were for these things.
You don’t see that type of thing at 17 though. You just see
adventures. It was an adventure for me. Many people don’t get that
type of experience at any age, let alone 17. I think it was something
special.”
you get older you realise just how young you were for these things.
You don’t see that type of thing at 17 though. You just see
adventures. It was an adventure for me. Many people don’t get that
type of experience at any age, let alone 17. I think it was something
special.”
His talent had attracted a number of suitors. A big Ken Buchanan fan, he signed
with the man who had guided Ken to the top, manager Eddie Thomas. It
was a match made in heaven.
with the man who had guided Ken to the top, manager Eddie Thomas. It
was a match made in heaven.
“Eddie
was one of the most respected people in boxing at that time,” he said. “Eddie was his own man, he did things his own way and if he
thought he had a good prospect he would be prepared to lose money in
the early shows. This meant that I fought a lot of my early fights in
Wales.
was one of the most respected people in boxing at that time,” he said. “Eddie was his own man, he did things his own way and if he
thought he had a good prospect he would be prepared to lose money in
the early shows. This meant that I fought a lot of my early fights in
Wales.
“I
turned professional with Eddie in 1977 because he told me that he was
not going to offer me any fancy figures, he knew I had offers from
London, but he said, ‘I will give you everything I have to offer,
and the use of one of the best boxing brains in Britain’. So I
turned pro with Eddie. I never wanted to go to London anyway, I could
train at home and go to Merthyr [the hometown of Thomas] for four
weeks before the fights.
turned professional with Eddie in 1977 because he told me that he was
not going to offer me any fancy figures, he knew I had offers from
London, but he said, ‘I will give you everything I have to offer,
and the use of one of the best boxing brains in Britain’. So I
turned pro with Eddie. I never wanted to go to London anyway, I could
train at home and go to Merthyr [the hometown of Thomas] for four
weeks before the fights.
“I
boxed Mike Copp in Port Talbot on my debut. I had a lot of respect
for Mike as I remembered him as a good kid when I was coming through
the ranks as an amateur. A fifth-round knockout over a tough man like
that was a good way to start my career.”
boxed Mike Copp in Port Talbot on my debut. I had a lot of respect
for Mike as I remembered him as a good kid when I was coming through
the ranks as an amateur. A fifth-round knockout over a tough man like
that was a good way to start my career.”
The
noted banger reeled off three more stoppage wins. Then there was a
mini-lull; Tony Martey came over from Ghana and took Jones the full
eight-rounds distance; Belgium’s Frankie Decaestecker came over and
lasted until the final bell; Welsh champion Horace McKenzie also
withstood the Jones fusillade. In the modern age, this run would provoke
relentless online debate over Jones’s power. For Colin, though, it
was a case of matchmaking at its finest.
noted banger reeled off three more stoppage wins. Then there was a
mini-lull; Tony Martey came over from Ghana and took Jones the full
eight-rounds distance; Belgium’s Frankie Decaestecker came over and
lasted until the final bell; Welsh champion Horace McKenzie also
withstood the Jones fusillade. In the modern age, this run would provoke
relentless online debate over Jones’s power. For Colin, though, it
was a case of matchmaking at its finest.
“I
think those fights were good management, stepping you up another
level to see how you carried your power there. I could still feel the
power coming through in those fights. They were good solid opponents
and I probably learned more from those three fights than I had for my
previous fights. I was trying to do a lot of damage and trying to put
them away, but it wasn’t happening, so then you have to revert to
your boxing. It was a lesson well learned.
think those fights were good management, stepping you up another
level to see how you carried your power there. I could still feel the
power coming through in those fights. They were good solid opponents
and I probably learned more from those three fights than I had for my
previous fights. I was trying to do a lot of damage and trying to put
them away, but it wasn’t happening, so then you have to revert to
your boxing. It was a lesson well learned.
“When
you are noted as a big banger fighters become aware of this. They
fight you in a different manner. They are not as open. They will also
do more homework on you and that showed sometimes in the way
opponents tried to box.”
you are noted as a big banger fighters become aware of this. They
fight you in a different manner. They are not as open. They will also
do more homework on you and that showed sometimes in the way
opponents tried to box.”
The
McKenzie fight was particularly tricky; Jones had faced Horace twice
as an amateur, and would fight him twice as a pro. Jones eventually
attained dominion over this fiddly foe with a seventh-round TKO in
1981. In the meantime, Jones had to learn his lessons. I asked Jones
if these fights were character building exercises.
McKenzie fight was particularly tricky; Jones had faced Horace twice
as an amateur, and would fight him twice as a pro. Jones eventually
attained dominion over this fiddly foe with a seventh-round TKO in
1981. In the meantime, Jones had to learn his lessons. I asked Jones
if these fights were character building exercises.
“Probably,”
he answered, “there were a lot of hard tough fights along the way.
People only tend to look at the title fights, the ‘glory’ fights
as I call them, but there was a lot of hard graft in the early
stages, and a lot of credit should go out to the boxers who get
forgotten about, without them you don’t get your experience, and
your grounding.
he answered, “there were a lot of hard tough fights along the way.
People only tend to look at the title fights, the ‘glory’ fights
as I call them, but there was a lot of hard graft in the early
stages, and a lot of credit should go out to the boxers who get
forgotten about, without them you don’t get your experience, and
your grounding.
“I
boxed Horace about four times in total. We had some really tough
rough-and-tumble rounds, and that helped me get the experience I
needed. There was Salvo Nucifero who gave me one hell of a fight,
while it lasted, you learn from every fight. You can only do in a
fight what your opponent allows you to do, if it goes the distance or
goes short the credit goes to them.”
boxed Horace about four times in total. We had some really tough
rough-and-tumble rounds, and that helped me get the experience I
needed. There was Salvo Nucifero who gave me one hell of a fight,
while it lasted, you learn from every fight. You can only do in a
fight what your opponent allows you to do, if it goes the distance or
goes short the credit goes to them.”
Jones’
power caught the attention of fight followers when he bounced Joey
Mack around like a yo-yo in a British title eliminator. Down ten
times, Mack was finally put out of his misery in round 10. Jones was
heading for the British title, and a showdown with the mercurial
Kirkland Laing.
power caught the attention of fight followers when he bounced Joey
Mack around like a yo-yo in a British title eliminator. Down ten
times, Mack was finally put out of his misery in round 10. Jones was
heading for the British title, and a showdown with the mercurial
Kirkland Laing.
Jones
watched Laing box Colin Ward, after a few rounds he had seen more
than enough, and there was only one thought on his mind.
watched Laing box Colin Ward, after a few rounds he had seen more
than enough, and there was only one thought on his mind.
“Eddie
Thomas took me to London to see Kirkland Laing I had never seen him
box on video so Eddie took me to the Royal Albert Hall, my fist visit
there. We were watching Laing and Eddie said, ‘Would you like to
fight him?’ So I said, ‘Yes!’ I was confident that he couldn’t
beat me with all that prancing about. Eddie said that it might be
more difficult than I thought because I wasn’t seeing Laing at his
best, but I fancied the job. Although I must now say that out of the
18 rounds I boxed against him I only won two of them, both of them in
the round [the ninth] that I stopped him in!”
Thomas took me to London to see Kirkland Laing I had never seen him
box on video so Eddie took me to the Royal Albert Hall, my fist visit
there. We were watching Laing and Eddie said, ‘Would you like to
fight him?’ So I said, ‘Yes!’ I was confident that he couldn’t
beat me with all that prancing about. Eddie said that it might be
more difficult than I thought because I wasn’t seeing Laing at his
best, but I fancied the job. Although I must now say that out of the
18 rounds I boxed against him I only won two of them, both of them in
the round [the ninth] that I stopped him in!”
Jones’
fights with Laing are occasionally explained away as flukes;
in reality they are similar to James Toney’s patient destruction of
Michael Nunn, they could pace a fight in Jones’s day, as Colin
explained.
fights with Laing are occasionally explained away as flukes;
in reality they are similar to James Toney’s patient destruction of
Michael Nunn, they could pace a fight in Jones’s day, as Colin
explained.
“I
must say that it was the conditioning, mental preparation and having
everything ready for the fight. I was in such condition leading into
those fights. I can tell you that I would have walked through a
bloody brick wall those nights. That is how I felt before those
fights.”
must say that it was the conditioning, mental preparation and having
everything ready for the fight. I was in such condition leading into
those fights. I can tell you that I would have walked through a
bloody brick wall those nights. That is how I felt before those
fights.”
Laing
built up an early lead in their first showdown, eventually Jones’
harder shots bloodied the mouth of the slickster from Nottingham;
body shots were also taking their toll. Jones knew that he was
behind, but he also knew that the fight, scheduled for 15-rounds, still had a sting or two left in the tail.
built up an early lead in their first showdown, eventually Jones’
harder shots bloodied the mouth of the slickster from Nottingham;
body shots were also taking their toll. Jones knew that he was
behind, but he also knew that the fight, scheduled for 15-rounds, still had a sting or two left in the tail.
“I
felt that I was in the fight all the way through those tough rounds,”
his recollection of those tough early rounds. “As the fight was
getting into the latter rounds I was getting stronger, which we had
worked on, instead of starting fast and getting weaker why not start
slow and get stronger?
felt that I was in the fight all the way through those tough rounds,”
his recollection of those tough early rounds. “As the fight was
getting into the latter rounds I was getting stronger, which we had
worked on, instead of starting fast and getting weaker why not start
slow and get stronger?
“Although
both fights ended reasonably suddenly I felt that the fight was
slipping from him, and that I would have got him in the 12th, or the
13th, or even the final rounds, it was a marathon back then because
of the 15 [round title distance]. Laing was getting weaker at the
halfway point, but I was getting stronger with every round. I knew I
would catch up with him.”
both fights ended reasonably suddenly I felt that the fight was
slipping from him, and that I would have got him in the 12th, or the
13th, or even the final rounds, it was a marathon back then because
of the 15 [round title distance]. Laing was getting weaker at the
halfway point, but I was getting stronger with every round. I knew I
would catch up with him.”
Jones
was hit with a flurry of shots early in round nine, he grinned
knowingly to himself, a few moments later he detonated a huge right
hand over the lazy guard of Laing; Kirkland was all at sea, Jones
applied the finish, and the contest was stopped at the end of the
round. For Jones it had been a matter of time.
was hit with a flurry of shots early in round nine, he grinned
knowingly to himself, a few moments later he detonated a huge right
hand over the lazy guard of Laing; Kirkland was all at sea, Jones
applied the finish, and the contest was stopped at the end of the
round. For Jones it had been a matter of time.
“I
was confident leading up to the fight. I knew that he was getting a
little overconfident when he started flapping, tapping and moving, so
I gave myself a little grin. A few seconds after giving out the
little grin I had him with the right hand. One thing that I wasn’t
bad at was finding the finishing post, as soon as I hurt a man I find
it [the finish] straight away, on that night I had seen the post, and
knew what to do with Laing once I had him going.”
was confident leading up to the fight. I knew that he was getting a
little overconfident when he started flapping, tapping and moving, so
I gave myself a little grin. A few seconds after giving out the
little grin I had him with the right hand. One thing that I wasn’t
bad at was finding the finishing post, as soon as I hurt a man I find
it [the finish] straight away, on that night I had seen the post, and
knew what to do with Laing once I had him going.”
Jones
reeled off four more stoppage wins, then faced Laing again. Their 1981
rematch was an exact replica of their first contest. Laing led, Jones
chased; this time, though, Laing roused the ire of Jones with some
dubious body punching in the eighth round.
reeled off four more stoppage wins, then faced Laing again. Their 1981
rematch was an exact replica of their first contest. Laing led, Jones
chased; this time, though, Laing roused the ire of Jones with some
dubious body punching in the eighth round.
“There
was a bit of controversy in that one,” he said. “I went down
twice after he had hit me low with a left hook. In all fairness to
referee John [Coyle] he said, ‘Stay down and have a breather and I
will have a word with him’, and he did just that.
was a bit of controversy in that one,” he said. “I went down
twice after he had hit me low with a left hook. In all fairness to
referee John [Coyle] he said, ‘Stay down and have a breather and I
will have a word with him’, and he did just that.
“Within
15-seconds he hit me with a right hand that nearly broke my kneecap.
I was again told to take my time before boxing on. I took a breather,
and took the onslaught, as he thought he had me hurt, but I wasn’t
hurt, not in the slightest.
15-seconds he hit me with a right hand that nearly broke my kneecap.
I was again told to take my time before boxing on. I took a breather,
and took the onslaught, as he thought he had me hurt, but I wasn’t
hurt, not in the slightest.
“I
managed to clip him with a left hook. That one moved his gumshield
and busted his mouth up. It very badly hurt him, I could tell because
when I went back to the corner he tried to come with me. I was
thinking, ‘Get back to your own corner’, because I knew coming
out for the ninth round that it was only a matter of time, and we had
plenty of rounds left in the fight.
managed to clip him with a left hook. That one moved his gumshield
and busted his mouth up. It very badly hurt him, I could tell because
when I went back to the corner he tried to come with me. I was
thinking, ‘Get back to your own corner’, because I knew coming
out for the ninth round that it was only a matter of time, and we had
plenty of rounds left in the fight.
“I
had taken it all out of him, his mouth was gone, he was having a job
just keeping his gumshield in, and I could rag him about like a rag
doll. I was catching him with good shots, good body shots, you have
to give them the credit, then I put that left hook over the top and
that was it – they rarely got up from that type of punch.”
had taken it all out of him, his mouth was gone, he was having a job
just keeping his gumshield in, and I could rag him about like a rag
doll. I was catching him with good shots, good body shots, you have
to give them the credit, then I put that left hook over the top and
that was it – they rarely got up from that type of punch.”
Although
17 of his KO’s came before the fifth-round had ended, Jones
was the very definition of a slow burner. He knew how to pace fights and would gather momentum with each passing round.
17 of his KO’s came before the fifth-round had ended, Jones
was the very definition of a slow burner. He knew how to pace fights and would gather momentum with each passing round.
“I
smouldered for six to seven rounds and then ignited – that is how I
boxed. If it was an eight rounder I would smoulder for four rounds,
if it was a ten rounder I would smoulder for five. That is just how I
was. The longer the fights went the more I would smoulder.”
smouldered for six to seven rounds and then ignited – that is how I
boxed. If it was an eight rounder I would smoulder for four rounds,
if it was a ten rounder I would smoulder for five. That is just how I
was. The longer the fights went the more I would smoulder.”
Despite
the slow-burning nature of his boxing style Jones could explode when
required to do so, and had every reason to do just this when losing
his unbeaten record to Curtis Ramsey. After a slow start, Jones
started clipping his man in round three, a pair of scything left
hooks to the body hurt Ramsey, the American fighter dropped to his
knees, Jones hit him with a soft right hand. Ramsey rolled around
like a Premiership footballer. Jones was disqualified. The memory
still bothers him.
the slow-burning nature of his boxing style Jones could explode when
required to do so, and had every reason to do just this when losing
his unbeaten record to Curtis Ramsey. After a slow start, Jones
started clipping his man in round three, a pair of scything left
hooks to the body hurt Ramsey, the American fighter dropped to his
knees, Jones hit him with a soft right hand. Ramsey rolled around
like a Premiership footballer. Jones was disqualified. The memory
still bothers him.
“I
think it was the killer instinct taking over, it was not malicious,”
admitted Jones. “Ramsey half-went, so I followed him and threw the
other shot. There was little connection on the shot, but it looked
like a big punch in the split-second that the referee had to look at
it, so he threw me out of the fight instead of counting the other
fella out. I lost my unbeaten record there, but that may have been a
godsend – it took a bit of pressure off me.”
think it was the killer instinct taking over, it was not malicious,”
admitted Jones. “Ramsey half-went, so I followed him and threw the
other shot. There was little connection on the shot, but it looked
like a big punch in the split-second that the referee had to look at
it, so he threw me out of the fight instead of counting the other
fella out. I lost my unbeaten record there, but that may have been a
godsend – it took a bit of pressure off me.”
“I
was upset at the time, mind. I thought I had won, that the last shot
did not connect properly, if it had of connected he would not have
been reeling about, he would have been in the one position, knocked
out. When they announced that I was disqualified I wasn’t thinking
about losing the unbeaten record. I was just really disappointed to
have lost when I still had fight left in me.”
was upset at the time, mind. I thought I had won, that the last shot
did not connect properly, if it had of connected he would not have
been reeling about, he would have been in the one position, knocked
out. When they announced that I was disqualified I wasn’t thinking
about losing the unbeaten record. I was just really disappointed to
have lost when I still had fight left in me.”
He
added: “Based on what I saw I would have had him out in the first
round if we had a return, so it would have proved nothing really. It
wasn’t a controversial points loss, it was him winning on the deck
and me losing on my feet.”
added: “Based on what I saw I would have had him out in the first
round if we had a return, so it would have proved nothing really. It
wasn’t a controversial points loss, it was him winning on the deck
and me losing on my feet.”
Eddie
Thomas earned his money at this point. Jones said: “Eddie did a
very wise thing, within twelve days he had me boxing in London, and I
knocked a guy called Milton Seward out clean [in three rounds].”
Thomas earned his money at this point. Jones said: “Eddie did a
very wise thing, within twelve days he had me boxing in London, and I
knocked a guy called Milton Seward out clean [in three rounds].”
Jones’
second win over Laing had earned him outright ownership of the
British title. The Welshman also wanted to wreak havoc along the
continent, and is adamant that the British-European-Commonwealth
route makes you a complete fighter.
second win over Laing had earned him outright ownership of the
British title. The Welshman also wanted to wreak havoc along the
continent, and is adamant that the British-European-Commonwealth
route makes you a complete fighter.
“I
think fighters should be made to go that route,” stressed Jones.
“If you can’t be champion of your own country how can you expect
to move onto greater things? There is so much value in the Lonsdale
belt, so why should people avoiding holding it? There have been so
many great fights for the British title. I think it is a massive loss
for boxing if people don’t fight for the national belt, there are
lots of domestic fights out there that could be fought for that
title, and they would sell out big halls.
think fighters should be made to go that route,” stressed Jones.
“If you can’t be champion of your own country how can you expect
to move onto greater things? There is so much value in the Lonsdale
belt, so why should people avoiding holding it? There have been so
many great fights for the British title. I think it is a massive loss
for boxing if people don’t fight for the national belt, there are
lots of domestic fights out there that could be fought for that
title, and they would sell out big halls.
“You
have got people avoiding the real titles because of the WBF, WBU,
International continental and the rest of them. Oh no, there should
only be two or three titles, maximum, especially if you have two or
three great fighters coming up in the country at the same time. That
should be a promoters dream, to promote those types of domestic
fight. The WBC, WBA and IBF are great – anything other than that
devalues what a world title means.”
have got people avoiding the real titles because of the WBF, WBU,
International continental and the rest of them. Oh no, there should
only be two or three titles, maximum, especially if you have two or
three great fighters coming up in the country at the same time. That
should be a promoters dream, to promote those types of domestic
fight. The WBC, WBA and IBF are great – anything other than that
devalues what a world title means.”
By
1982 Jones was hitting his peak; a second-round massacre of Sakaraia Ve
brought home the Commonwealth title. Jones was a lean, mean fighting
machine, but this focus came at a cost, as Jones explained: “I was
very, very difficult to live with [before a fight]. I always moved
away from my family. I have been married to the same woman [Debbie]
for thirty years, but if I hadn’t have done that maybe I wouldn’t
have stayed that way. It was just me, Gareth and Eddie in our camp,
and we would arrange sparring partners to come in.
1982 Jones was hitting his peak; a second-round massacre of Sakaraia Ve
brought home the Commonwealth title. Jones was a lean, mean fighting
machine, but this focus came at a cost, as Jones explained: “I was
very, very difficult to live with [before a fight]. I always moved
away from my family. I have been married to the same woman [Debbie]
for thirty years, but if I hadn’t have done that maybe I wouldn’t
have stayed that way. It was just me, Gareth and Eddie in our camp,
and we would arrange sparring partners to come in.
“I
was not very nice to my sparring partners, or my opponents, not very
nice at all. Again, you don’t realise it then but you find out
later in life what type of a person you was. I don’t think people
can be expected to realise what type of person you are when you are
young, especially in boxing because it is a hard and cruel game. You
don’t really realise how cruel it is until you have moved on from
it.”
was not very nice to my sparring partners, or my opponents, not very
nice at all. Again, you don’t realise it then but you find out
later in life what type of a person you was. I don’t think people
can be expected to realise what type of person you are when you are
young, especially in boxing because it is a hard and cruel game. You
don’t really realise how cruel it is until you have moved on from
it.”
In part two, Jones talks about his torrid WBC world title fights with
Milton McCrory, as well his agonising WBC/IBF title defeat to Don
Curry.
Milton McCrory, as well his agonising WBC/IBF title defeat to Don
Curry.
Please
send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk
or Twitter @Terryboxing.
send news and views to neckodeemus@hotmail.co.uk
or Twitter @Terryboxing.
Courtesy
of Rick Reeno and www.boxingscene.com
of Rick Reeno and www.boxingscene.com
Photo
courtesy of “Big” Al Stevenson
courtesy of “Big” Al Stevenson
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Anonymous
May 13, 2012 at 10:53 pm
colin was my hero when a were a lad what a fighter lovely man thanks for this terrific read