Don’t recall exactly in what fight I first saw Tiger Jones - maybe the December
1952 decision win over welterweight Johnny Bratton, or could have been the
second Rocky Castellani fight January of 1953.
Both were seen over black & white TV from the old Garden at 8th & 49th - and
after one peek there wasn’t a Tiger Jones fight I wanted missing - new arrivals
to our game of pro boxing that scanned the career resumé of 52-32-5 with only
13 KO’s would likely shout club fighter, journeyman.
Understandable, but Jones was far better than what the record would imply - an
exception to the norm - and far better than journeyman or club fighter.
On that note, let’s glance at a tough, iron jawed middleweight that was denied
a deserved title shot opportunity during a career of 89 fights - hold on to
your hats and enjoy the ride:
Begins on May 27, 1950 at the old Ridgewood Grove once located within walking
distance of my Brooklyn cold water flat - a four round decision win over one
Jimmy Garcia.
The 5-8 solidly constructed Jones went undefeated over the first nine outings
before a cut eye stopped him in opening stanza of fight with Henry Burroughs,
who was one of his earlier victims - Tiger would never again be halted in 79
subsequent kept appointments.
The opponents in alphabetical order:
Bratton, Rocky Castellani (twice) Rory Calhoun (twice), Bobby Dykes, Ernie
Durando, Del Flanagan, Gene Fullmer (twice), Kid Gavilan ( twice), Joey Giambra
( twice), Joey Giardello (three), Eduardo Lausse (twice), Billy McNeece, Peter
Muller, "Bobo" Olson, Paul Pender, Sugar Ray Robinson, Johnny Saxton (twice).
There were other good ones for Jones, but the above are the cream of the crop at
160 back in them roaring early 1950s and mid 1960s, when there was not many
gimmes for those needing protection.
Biggest win on paper was a Jones unanimous decision win over a returning Sugar
Robinson that was convinced the shorter and slower Tiger, would be a good
choice to sharpen the tools. Bad selection indeed.
Sad part of the Ralph Tiger Jones ring career is, while the losses piled up
over an 89 bout career, the wins over a Giardello, Gavilan, Bratton and
competitive outings with Fullmer, Olson, Castellani, etc. should have earned a
title shot.
Saddest of all is Ralph "Tiger" Jones left us at the early age of 66 - a class
act that never once short changed the paying clientele.
