Percy Jones

Percy Jones was, in 1894-96, the first man to win the ABA bantamweight title three years in succession and, as of the 2018 Championships, was still the only man to have performed this feat. Furthermore, Jones did it representing three different boxing clubs: New Kent Road BC, Cestus BC and Lynn ABC. After his third triumph, he retired from public events and turned to coaching, and founded the Fulham Boxing Club, of which he became the honorary secretary. Jones also became a much-respected member of the Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) council following his election in 1914. He went on to become a judge and referee. He stayed in good condition physically, and was selected as a member of the 1908 Great Britain Olympic squad for the featherweight division, although he was a non-starter. Following his death, the ABA presented the “Percy A. Jones Memorial Shield’ to the boxing club of which the ABA bantamweight champion each year belonged. Jones was serving as an instructor in the Royal Navy during World War I when he died from general paralysis at the Gillingham Naval Hospital.