Mae West: "Gorilla" Honored

MAE WEST was attracted not just to character actors but to genuine characters such as William "Gorilla" Jones [1906 — 1982]. News comes today that the former boxer will be honored next year.
• • According to Adelaide Now, three-time heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis headlines the 2009 induction class into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
• • Lennox Lewis enters as a modern era fighter, along with American bantamweight champion Orlando Canizales and South African junior lightweight champion Brian Mitchell.
• • Posthumous honorees are middleweight champion William "Gorilla" Jones, welterweight champion "Mysterious" Billy Smith, and middleweight champion Billy Soose.
• • Inductees were voted in by members of the Boxing Writers Association and a panel of international boxing historians. The induction ceremony is June 14, 2009 . . . .
• • The new nominees include William "Gorilla" Jones
• • WILLIAM "GORILLA" JONES • •
• • Born in Memphis, Tennessee, May 12, 1906. Turned pro in 1924. Jones stopped Oddone Piazza with a sixth-round TKO to win NBA middleweight title in 1931. After title loss to Marcel Thil, Jones regained the NBA crown in 1933 with a seventh-round KO of Sammy Slaughter. Retired in 1940 with a career mark of 101-24-13 and 52 KOs. In retirement, became chauffeur and bodyguard for Hollywood starlet Mae West. Died January 4, 1982. . . .
— — Excerpt: — —
• • Published in: Adelaide Now — — www.news.com.au
• • Published on: 10 December 2008
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
• • Come up and see Mae every day online: http://MaeWest.blogspot.com/
________
Source:http://maewest.blogspot.com/atom.xml
Mae West
• • Photo: • • Mae West • • none • •
NYC
Mae West.