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Gorilla Jones ("The Fighting Gorilla") facts for kids

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Gorilla Jones
Statistics
Nickname(s) The Fighting Gorilla
Rated at Welterweight
Nationality American
Stance Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights 37
Wins 18
Wins by KO 10
Losses 17
Draws 2

Gorilla Jones was an American boxer known as "The Fighting Gorilla." He was a welterweight fighter from Alexandria, Louisiana. He boxed professionally from 1913 to 1924.

His nickname might have inspired another famous boxer, William Landon Jones. That William Jones was the second Black boxer to win a world middleweight title.

Gorilla Jones's Boxing Journey

Gorilla Jones had many exciting fights during his career. On September 1, 1921, he won a fight in Colorado Springs. His opponent, Battling Ortega, was disqualified in the first round for a low blow.

Big Fights and Rivals

On January 6, 1922, Jones won against a well-known Black boxer named Speedball Hayden. This fight took place in El Paso, Texas, and Jones won by knockout in the ninth round. People thought Jones would win because he was known for his powerful punches.

Speedball Hayden had beaten Jones before, on April 1, 1921, in Phoenix, Arizona. In that fight, Hayden won by points after eight rounds. Even though Jones fought hard, Hayden was clearly better that day. Another time, on November 25, 1920, Jones lost a fight by disqualification. But reports said he had knocked Hayden down four times before the foul happened.

Winning a Special Championship

Tiger Flowers portrait LOC
Tiger Flowers was a famous boxer who fought Gorilla Jones.

Back then, professional boxing had a "color bar." This meant Black boxers like Jones could not compete for the main world titles. Because of this, special championships were created for Black boxers.

On February 15, 1915, Jones won the World Colored Welterweight Championship. He beat Eddie Palmer, who was the first champion, in a 20-round fight in New Orleans. Jones won by points, but it seems he never defended this title.

On February 21, 1922, Jones fought against Tiger Flowers in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. Tiger Flowers later became the first Black boxer to win the world middleweight title. Jones lost this fight in the ninth round by knockout. This fight was for the Southwest Middleweight Championship.

Gorilla Jones finished his boxing career with 18 wins and 17 losses. He won 10 fights by knockout and had two draws.

Gorilla Jones's Fight Record

Here is a summary of Gorilla Jones's professional boxing matches:

Professional record summary
37 fights 18 wins 17 losses
By knockout 10 10
By decision 7 6
By disqualification 1 1
Draws 2
No. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
37 Win 18–17–2 Tim Kelly PTS 4 Dec 29, 1922 L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
36 Loss 17–17–2 Tim Kelly PTS 4 Dec 15, 1922 L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
35 Draw 17–16–2 Johnny Burns PTS 4 Oct 26, 1922 West Side Arena, San Jose, California, U.S.
34 Loss 17–16–1 Lee Anderson KO 3 (12) Aug 15, 1922 City Auditorium, Galveston, Texas, U.S.
33 Win 17–15–1 Sonny Goodrich TKO 7 (12) Jun 2, 1922 Beethoven Hall, San Antonio, Texas, U.S.
32 Loss 16–15–1 Billy Britton TKO 12 (15) Apr 25, 1922 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
31 Win 16–14–1 Eddie McGovern PTS 4 Apr 20, 1922 East Side Arena, San Jose, California, U.S.
30 Win 15–14–1 Kid Reese KO 2 (4) Mar 17, 1922 L Street Arena, Sacramento, California, U.S.
29 Loss 14–14–1 Tiger Flowers KO 9 (15) Feb 21, 1922 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico For vacant Southwest middleweight championship
28 Win 14–13–1 Speedball Hayden KO 9 (15) Jan 6, 1922 Fort Bliss Arena, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
27 Win 13–13–1 Chihuahua Kid Brown KO 3 (?) Oct 9, 1921 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico Finish Fight
26 Win 12–13–1 Battling Ortega DQ 1 (?) Sep 5, 1921 Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S.
25 Win 11–13–1 Chihuahua Kid Brown TKO 5 (15) Aug 17, 1921 Armory, Albuquerque, New Mexico, U.S.
24 Win 10–13–1 Leo Matlock KO 6 (15) Jun 19, 1921 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
23 Draw 9–13–1 Andy Kid Palmer PTS 15 Apr 17, 1921 Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico
22 Loss 9–13 Speedball Hayden PTS 8 Apr 1, 1921 Arizona A.C., Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.
21 Win 9–12 Sunny Jim Williams KO 5 (10) Jan 14, 1921 Fort Bliss Arena, El Paso, Texas, U.S.
20 Loss 8–12 Andy Kid Palmer PTS 10 Dec 11, 1920 Douglas, Arizona, U.S.
19 Loss 8–11 Speedball Hayden DQ 4 (?) Nov 25, 1920 Columbus, New Mexico, U.S.
18 Loss 8–10 Battling Gahee KO 15 (15) Sep 18, 1920 National Baseball Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
17 Win 8–9 Battling Norfolk PTS 15 Jul 16, 1920 National Baseball Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
16 Loss 7–9 Battling Norfolk KO 5 (20) Apr 21, 1920 Passtime Athletic Club, Alexandria, Louisiana, U.S.
15 Loss 7–8 Young Kid Norfolk TKO 9 (15) Jan 5, 1920 Dauphine Theater, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
14 Win 7–7 Eddie Palmer PTS 15 Oct 31, 1919 Tulane Arena, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
13 Loss 6–7 Sal Carlo KO 1 (4) Oct 2, 1919 Coliseum, San Francisco, California, U.S.
12 Win 6–6 Jack Mitchell KO 12 (20) Mar 14, 1917 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
11 Win 5–6 Hock Bones TKO 11 (20) Mar 2, 1917 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
10 Win 4–6 Jamaica Kid PTS 15 Apr 18, 1916 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
9 Loss 3–6 Eddie Palmer KO 8 (?) Apr 1, 1916 McElroy, Louisiana, U.S. Exact date unknown / Held in 1916
8 Loss 3–5 Kyle Whitney TKO 8 (20) Mar 18, 1915 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
7 Win 3–4 Eddie Palmer PTS 20 Feb 15, 1915 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S. Won world colored welterweight title
6 Win 2–4 Eddie Palmer PTS 20 Jan 23, 1915 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
5 Loss 1–4 Eddie Palmer PTS 10 Dec 20, 1914 McDonoghville Park, New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
4 Loss 1–3 One Round Charley TKO 7 (10) Feb 11, 1914 Northside A.C., New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
3 Loss 1–2 Young Tommy Coleman PTS 10 Dec 12, 1913 New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.
2 Loss 1–1 Kyle Whitney PTS 8 Jul 14, 1913 Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
1 Win 1–0 Kid Sylvester KO 2 (8) Jun 02, 1913 Phoenix A.C., Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Eddie Palmer		 World Colored Welterweight Champion
February 15, 1915 – Unknown		 Succeeded by
Cocoa Kid
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