Career
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. 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 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. 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 also 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. Death
Jones died from arteriosclerosis on January 4, 1982 in Los Angeles, California, aged 75.