Reading through angelo dundee's biography i came across a heavyweight he had in miami called Al jones who he wanted to fight joe frazier. Jones was rated in 1969 and whilst angelo felt jimmy ellis was all wrong for frazier he wanted his other heavyweight to face him first because he felt jones was all wrong for Frazier and could have given him fits. Has anyone seen Jones fight? I found this on boxrec about jones. "According to an article written by This content is protected in the April 1968 issue of The Ring Magazine, Al Jones was born on December 28, 1943 in Princeton, Florida. He was raised in the small town of Goulds, which was 15 miles from downtown Miami, Florida. He graduated from Mays High School and served in the U.S. Army at Ford Gordon, Georgia as an infantryman. Upon his discharge, the 6 feet 6 inch. Jones worked at various jobs: nightclub bouncer, meatpacker, and mortuary assistant. One of five children, he decided to become a professional boxer to assist his family. After going 5-0, with five knockouts in the local amateur boxing program, Jones turned pro in Miami Beach, Florida under famed trainer This content is protected . Jones built his skills at the famed 5th Street Gym, working as a sparring partner for This content is protected , This content is protected , and This content is protected . After losing his debut, Jones streaked to 33 straight victories and a top 10 ranking in the heavyweight division. Among his victories were top contenders This content is protected , This content is protected , This content is protected ,and This content is protected . However, Jones broke his hand in a 1970 bout. A year later, he broke it again. In 1972, his steak ended after he broke his hand yet a third time. Jones retired from the ring,and invested in a large apartment complex in Opa Locka, Florida. The Al Jones Apartments became a tourist attraction as well, as it featured a towering gigantic cut-out of Jones in fighting pose. In 1975, Jones fought two exhibitions with 6 foot 8 inch. This content is protected . A year later, the comeback bug bite him, and Jones returned to the ring with a 1st round knockout of 240lbs. This content is protected , and an upset 10 round nod over This content is protected who was 22-3. On the verge of a title match, Jones broke his hand yet again and was unable to continue against This content is protected . Thus ended the career of South Florida's brightest heavyweight hope."
I remember him ,he was a big guy maybe 6' 6''. Here is a bill he was on. http://boxing-kit.com/index.php?act=viewProd&productId=1139
thanks for that:good he looked like a big guy. He must have been one of the rare happy endings for an ex contender who didnt make it when he ended up with his own apartment block.
Speaking of that Miami crew Dr Ferdie Paccachico had some good stuff on Jones in his book, Blood In My Coffie.
AS i recall, there was also another Al Jones around at the time, Memphis Al Jones, and some confusion occurred when Memphis Al was beaten some thought it was Florida Al. As i recall Florida Al was listed as one to watch, but in those days new prospects were being discovered on an almost a monthly basis.
