CHRIS JONES
A BOXING REFEREE
by Ralph Oates
In this month’s boxing column, I have interviewed Chris Jones who very kindly answered a series of questions about the sport. Ralph Oates Where in Wales were you born? Chris Jones Swansea. Ralph Oates When did you become a referee? Chris Jones I started as a Referee on the Kickboxing, MMA and WhiteCollar Boxing circuit scene initially around 2005. I later went on to become an Official with the British Boxing Board of Control in February 2015. Ralph Oates What first drew you to boxing? Chris Jones I remember as a youngster watching the ITV Saturday Fight Nights with the likes of Nigel Benn vs Chris Eubank and then was really engrossed and fully into the sport through watching and loving Prince Naseem Hamed. Ralph Oates Did you ever box be it amateur or professional? Chris Jones My background was in Karate and Kickboxing from a really early age at Spatz Gym where I went on to fight professionally with 8 wins, 4 losses and a Welsh title. I trained at Premier ABC in Swansea to compliment my
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training and to improve my punching technique. Ralph Oates Which stance did you box, southpaw or orthodox? Chris Jones I was an orthodox boxer with a lead hand left hook that followed the right cross, my favourite punch. Ralph Oates Have any members of your family ever boxed? Chris Jones My Dad had two amateur bouts when he was in his early 20s, as he was good friends with Nigel Page and Valo Maccarenelli (Former Pro Boxers from Swansea), but my Dad’s cousin (who would go to be my coach / sensei through my training) was Gus Gilbert and he was a World Champion Kickboxer. Ralph Oates Which is your favourite weight division? Chris Jones I used to box between 78kg and 82kgs so always compared myself with the Super Middle and Light Heavyweight fighters. I used to compare my size, attributes and style to firstly Chris Eu-bank, Joe Calzaghe, Steve Collins era, but in my fighting days, more to George Groves, James DeGale and Carl Froch. Ralph Oates Who is your favourite old-time boxer? Chris Jones Roy Jones Jnr. What he could do in the ring was
