Ginger Jones
Encyclopedia
Bryn "Ginger" Jones was a professional boxer
from Wales
. Born in Ferndale, but later based in Ammanford, Jones was notable for becoming the Welsh featherweight champion in 1929.
. His father was a collier who was also known in the area as a mountain fighter; while his mother was a housewife who looked after a large family of eleven children.
On 31 January 1932 Jones married Olive Jones, they had two children Brian and Jayne.
Although BoxRec states that Jones' first professional fight was on the 10 June 1928, Tony Lee in his 2009 work All in My Corner states that he began his pro career in 1924 fighting and winning bouts against the likes of Johnny Haydn and Billy Meade. His most notable fight in this early part of his career was in October 1927 against Bill Beynon
, the former British bantamweight champion; although Jones took severe punishment he managed to win the contest. On 9 January 1928 former British welterweight champion Johnny Basham, a friend of the Jones family, in a meeting with boxing manager Johnny Vaughan mentioned that Vaughan should watch Ginger Jones fight. Vaughan attended Jones' next contest, against Reggie Jones at Pontypridd on 18 January, and after the fight he signed Jones up.
After Vaughan took charge of Jones he began to take on fighters at higher level events, taking on Tommy Bailey in Liverpool, and then gaining two draws at Premierland in Whitechapel
against Jack Garland and Len "Tiger" Smith, both within a week in September 1929. These results were followed up with a challenge for the Welsh featherweight championship, with a match against the holder Billy Evans of Merthyr Tydfil
. Jones and Evans had faced each twice before, with Evans the victor in November 1928, but Jones then won the rematch on points in January 1929. Their third contest was held at the British Legion Hall in Pentre
and was scheduled for fifteen rounds. The match went the distance, with F.R. Hill of Boxing newspaper giving the early rounds to Evans, but with Jones taking control in the later stages. Jones was declared winner on a points decision
, making him the Welsh champion.
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 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...
. Born in Ferndale, but later based in Ammanford, Jones was notable for becoming the Welsh featherweight champion in 1929.
Personal history
Jones was born to William Evan and Jane Jones in Ferndale in the industrial coal mining area of the Rhondda ValleysRhondda
Rhondda , or the Rhondda Valley , is a former coal mining valley in Wales, formerly a local government district, consisting of 16 communities built around the River Rhondda. The valley is made up of two valleys, the larger Rhondda Fawr valley and the smaller Rhondda Fach valley...
. His father was a collier who was also known in the area as a mountain fighter; while his mother was a housewife who looked after a large family of eleven children.
On 31 January 1932 Jones married Olive Jones, they had two children Brian and Jayne.
Boxing career
Jones fought from a young age, with his father converting a stable in the family's garden into a gym. Two of his elder brothers were notable boxers, Harold, a bantamweight fought unsuccessfully for the British bantamweight title in 1920, while William Evan was a 1914 Army champion. Jones chose to turn professional in 1924 at the age of 19, because 'Money was short'. He had no official amateur experience, and he relied on his family's training when he started his professional training first with Will Pearson in Ferndale and the later Dai Lodwick. He took as his first manager Teddy Lewis, who set up his first contests, mainly against local opponents.Although BoxRec states that Jones' first professional fight was on the 10 June 1928, Tony Lee in his 2009 work All in My Corner states that he began his pro career in 1924 fighting and winning bouts against the likes of Johnny Haydn and Billy Meade. His most notable fight in this early part of his career was in October 1927 against Bill Beynon
Bill Beynon
Bill Beynon was a Welsh boxer who fought professionally between 1909 and 1931. He is most notable for winning the British and Empire bantamweight boxing championship in 1913.-Boxing career:...
, the former British bantamweight champion; although Jones took severe punishment he managed to win the contest. On 9 January 1928 former British welterweight champion Johnny Basham, a friend of the Jones family, in a meeting with boxing manager Johnny Vaughan mentioned that Vaughan should watch Ginger Jones fight. Vaughan attended Jones' next contest, against Reggie Jones at Pontypridd on 18 January, and after the fight he signed Jones up.
After Vaughan took charge of Jones he began to take on fighters at higher level events, taking on Tommy Bailey in Liverpool, and then gaining two draws at Premierland in Whitechapel
Whitechapel
Whitechapel is a built-up inner city district in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, London, England. It is located east of Charing Cross and roughly bounded by the Bishopsgate thoroughfare on the west, Fashion Street on the north, Brady Street and Cavell Street on the east and The Highway on the...
against Jack Garland and Len "Tiger" Smith, both within a week in September 1929. These results were followed up with a challenge for the Welsh featherweight championship, with a match against the holder Billy Evans of Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil
Merthyr Tydfil is a town in Wales, with a population of about 30,000. Although once the largest town in Wales, it is now ranked as the 15th largest urban area in Wales. It also gives its name to a county borough, which has a population of around 55,000. It is located in the historic county of...
. Jones and Evans had faced each twice before, with Evans the victor in November 1928, but Jones then won the rematch on points in January 1929. Their third contest was held at the British Legion Hall in Pentre
Pentre
Pentre is a village and community, near Treorchy in Rhondda valley, falling within the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. The village's name is taken from the Welsh word Pentref, which translates as homestead, though Pentre is named after a large farm that dominated the area before the...
and was scheduled for fifteen rounds. The match went the distance, with F.R. Hill of Boxing newspaper giving the early rounds to Evans, but with Jones taking control in the later stages. Jones was declared winner on a points decision
Points decision
A points decision is a winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts and others sports involving striking unlike normal decisions where there is three judges that agree on which fighter won the match the fight is scored by the...
, making him the Welsh champion.