Barry Jones (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Barry Jones was a professional boxer
from Cardiff
, Wales
. Jones was WBO
super featherweight champion, but lost his title when his license was revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control after an anomaly was discovered during a brain scan.
. He turned professional in 1992 at the age of eighteen; and was trained by Pat Thomas
, the former British Welterweight Champion.
Jones' first four professional fights were all held in his home city of Cardiff and all set for six rounds. Jones beat emerging fighter Con McMullen, before a victory over journeyman Miguel Matthews followed by wins over Mike Deveney and Greg Upton. He followed these fights with his first professional bouts outside Wales, beating first Colin MacAuley in Solihull in April 1993, then a points victory over John White in an undercard fight in the build up to the Chris Eubank
vs. Nigel Benn
encounter at the Old Trafford Stadium in October. In November 1993 he fought twice, beating Neil Swain at Ystrad Mynach and then Peter Buckley in Cardiff. He finished the year with another points victory, against Midlands fighter Elvis Parsley.
In January 1994 Jones beat Peter Buckley in Cardiff, his tenth straight professional win. This was followed when he was again undercard, against Kelton McKenzie, to another World Title bout, Eubanks WBO super-middleweight win over Sam Storey
. Jones had three fights in 1995; the first on the 25 May was his first ten round bout, a points win over Justin Murphy in an eliminator for the British featherweight title. He completed the year with victories over Chris Jickells and Peter Buckley.
Personal problems forced Jones to take a year out, working in Ireland. His return on 30 November 1996 saw him harshly awarded a draw against fellow Cardiff boxer, David Morris. Despite this, fight promoter Frank Warren
managed to set up a match with the IBF Inter-Continental super-featherweight champion Peter Judson. Fought at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre in Sheffield, the fight went the full distance of twelve rounds, Jones taking the title on points. He then successfully defended the title against Frenchman Affif Djelti.
Warren then secured Jones a challenge for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title, against Columbian Wilson Palacio. The fight took place at the London Arena on 19 December 1997, and Jones took the title via unanimous decision (116-112, 118-110, 118-110). A lucrative defence was planned against talented French fighter Julien Lorcy
, but a routine brain scan four months later revealed an anomaly. There was a small gap in his membrane, which doctors were unable to diagnose, whether as a boxer, this would increase his likelihood of brain damage. In the wake of fellow British boxer Michael Watson
's brain injury in 1991, the British Boxing Board of Control
were sensitive to any risk and suspended Jones while they investigated further. It took seven months of discussion to finally assure the board that there was no undue cause for concern, and although his license was restored the WBO had already stripped Jones of his title. The WBO promised Jones another attempt at the title when he returned, but by the time he was fit the title was held by the heavy hitting Brazilian Acelino Freitas
.
Jones and Freitas met on 15 January 2000, with Jones having fought professionally just once since his return. Jones had never won via knockout, so it was a surprise when he put the champion down in the first few seconds of the first round. Though this turned out to be a small moment of supremacy with Freitas dominating the match. Jones was knocked down six times and his corner threw in the towel in the eighth round. He never fought professionally again and later became a PE teacher in London.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
from Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
. Jones was WBO
World Boxing Organization
The World Boxing Organization is a sanctioning organization currently recognizing professional boxing world champions. The organization is recognized as one of the four major world championship groups by the IBHOF alongside the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Council and the...
super featherweight champion, but lost his title when his license was revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control after an anomaly was discovered during a brain scan.
Boxing career
Jones was born in Cardiff in 1974, and began boxing at the age of ten when he began training at Ray Thorogood's Highfields gym. He was a junior fighter of note, claiming a European silver medal and he competed in the World ChampionshipsWorld Amateur Boxing Championships
The World Amateur Boxing Championships is a biennial amateur boxing competition organised by the International Boxing Association , which is the sport governing body. Alongside the Olympic boxing programme, it is the highest level of competition for the sport...
. He turned professional in 1992 at the age of eighteen; and was trained by Pat Thomas
Pat Thomas (boxer)
Pat Thomas was a Light-middleweight boxer, originally from Saint Kitts and Nevis, who took British citizenship and won two British boxing titles in the 1970s and 80s...
, the former British Welterweight Champion.
Jones' first four professional fights were all held in his home city of Cardiff and all set for six rounds. Jones beat emerging fighter Con McMullen, before a victory over journeyman Miguel Matthews followed by wins over Mike Deveney and Greg Upton. He followed these fights with his first professional bouts outside Wales, beating first Colin MacAuley in Solihull in April 1993, then a points victory over John White in an undercard fight in the build up to the Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank
Chris Eubank, Lord of the Manor of Brighton is a retired British boxer who held world titles at middleweight and super middleweight...
vs. Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn
Nigel Benn , known as "The Dark Destroyer", is a British former boxer who held world titles in the middleweight and super middleweight divisions....
encounter at the Old Trafford Stadium in October. In November 1993 he fought twice, beating Neil Swain at Ystrad Mynach and then Peter Buckley in Cardiff. He finished the year with another points victory, against Midlands fighter Elvis Parsley.
In January 1994 Jones beat Peter Buckley in Cardiff, his tenth straight professional win. This was followed when he was again undercard, against Kelton McKenzie, to another World Title bout, Eubanks WBO super-middleweight win over Sam Storey
Sam Storey
Sam Storey is a former professional boxer. Storey fought at Super Middleweight and won the British Super Middleweight Title in 1995....
. Jones had three fights in 1995; the first on the 25 May was his first ten round bout, a points win over Justin Murphy in an eliminator for the British featherweight title. He completed the year with victories over Chris Jickells and Peter Buckley.
Personal problems forced Jones to take a year out, working in Ireland. His return on 30 November 1996 saw him harshly awarded a draw against fellow Cardiff boxer, David Morris. Despite this, fight promoter Frank Warren
Frank Warren (promoter)
Frank Darren Warren is an English boxing manager and promoter.-Early life and early career:The son of a bookmaker, Warren trained as a solicitor's clerk with J Tickle & Co on Southampton Row in London....
managed to set up a match with the IBF Inter-Continental super-featherweight champion Peter Judson. Fought at the Hillsborough Leisure Centre in Sheffield, the fight went the full distance of twelve rounds, Jones taking the title on points. He then successfully defended the title against Frenchman Affif Djelti.
Warren then secured Jones a challenge for the vacant WBO super-featherweight title, against Columbian Wilson Palacio. The fight took place at the London Arena on 19 December 1997, and Jones took the title via unanimous decision (116-112, 118-110, 118-110). A lucrative defence was planned against talented French fighter Julien Lorcy
Julien Lorcy
Julien Lorcy , was a professional boxer who held the WBA lightweight title twice.- Amateur career :Record: 65-4 *1990 French National Amateur Featherweight Champion...
, but a routine brain scan four months later revealed an anomaly. There was a small gap in his membrane, which doctors were unable to diagnose, whether as a boxer, this would increase his likelihood of brain damage. In the wake of fellow British boxer Michael Watson
Michael Watson
Michael Watson, MBE is a retired British boxer whose career ended prematurely as a result of near-fatal injury sustained in a WBO super-middleweight title fight defeat by Chris Eubank in September 1991....
's brain injury in 1991, the British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
were sensitive to any risk and suspended Jones while they investigated further. It took seven months of discussion to finally assure the board that there was no undue cause for concern, and although his license was restored the WBO had already stripped Jones of his title. The WBO promised Jones another attempt at the title when he returned, but by the time he was fit the title was held by the heavy hitting Brazilian Acelino Freitas
Acelino Freitas
Acelino "Popó" Freitas is a Brazilian boxer and a former world junior lightweight and lightweight champion. Freitas is also a state legislator for the state of Bahia . His style of fighting in the ring has garnered him a reputation for being more of a brawler than a boxer. His nickname, Popó, was...
.
Jones and Freitas met on 15 January 2000, with Jones having fought professionally just once since his return. Jones had never won via knockout, so it was a surprise when he put the champion down in the first few seconds of the first round. Though this turned out to be a small moment of supremacy with Freitas dominating the match. Jones was knocked down six times and his corner threw in the towel in the eighth round. He never fought professionally again and later became a PE teacher in London.