AT THE time, as the Seventies rolled into the Eighties, it was thought of an experiment that failed. A profession that lasted a mere three months; one which ran its course after one of the anticipated debuts in boxing historical past. Simply put, the novelty wore off.
A decade earlier than, there had been speak of 7ft 1ins basketball star Wilt Chamberlain difficult Muhammad Ali. The public was intrigued to the purpose the proposed match gained critical traction, however Chamberlain, on the final second, had a change of coronary heart. Ali’s barbs of “Timber”, when he noticed Chamberlain, had been stated to play a position in waking the massive man to the truth of what would transpire. Today it’s ludicrous to assume that Chamberlain, who had no boxing expertise, may have even been semi-competitive however, again then, some folks even puzzled whether or not he may truly win. Unknowingly, that set the desk for Ed “Too Tall” Jones to make his boxing debut on November 3, 1979 in Las Cruces, New Mexico.
That Jones was coming into the ring in any respect captivated the sports activities world. As the primary choose within the 1974 NFL draft, Jones had gone on to have a stellar 5 years as a defensive finish of the Dallas Cowboys, labelled as America’s staff. Jones had helped make them three Super Bowls, successful one. He was paid effectively and a good-looking new contract awaited him. Some thought he was utilizing the specter of retiring from the NFL as a ploy to squeeze extra money out of the Cowboys. After all, it made no sense, a minimum of not on the floor, why one of many largest stars of the game who was within the prime of his profession would go away it to turn into a novice in one other. But, for Jones, the choice was not simply straightforward, it was inevitable.
The public had at all times seen Jones making life depressing for the opposing staff. When the 6ft 9ins Jones was not sacking the quarterback, batting down his passes and snuffing out the tried positive aspects by working backs, he was questioning whether or not he may have loved the identical success inside the ring.
“I grew up on a farm [in Jackson, Tennessee],” says Jones. “My dad was a nice struggle fan. I used to hold across the boxing fitness center with my associates after I was in highschool. The man answerable for the fitness center was named Rayford Collins who educated some excellent fighters like Jackie Beard. He inspired us to field. I had an newbie struggle and knocked my opponent out in 36 seconds. It was within the newspaper.
“I was taking part in different sports activities in highschool like basketball and baseball. I was excellent. I had the identical coach for each. When he examine me boxing he gave me an ultimatum, that if I continued I couldn’t be on any of the college groups.
“Boxing was my favorite sport, it was my dad’s favorite sport, but you have to understand how things are in a small town. Boxing was not nearly as popular as the others where I was from. Everyone in my hometown loved basketball and baseball. I would have been run out of town if I quit those sports and boxed. But I knew in my heart that one day I would box again.”
Ironically, Jones would attend faculty (Tennessee State) on a basketball scholarship, quitting the staff after two years to focus on soccer. He turned a two-time All American defensive lineman in faculty, resulting in the Cowboys buying and selling up within the draft to pick him with the highest choose.
Jones anchored the Cowboys’ ‘Doomsday Defense’, nonetheless thought of one of many higher defensive models in NFL historical past. “I had a four-year deal with an option for a fifth,” he explains. “After the fourth 12 months I went to the Cowboys and advised them I might play out the choice however I didn’t inform them what I had deliberate. I then left after my fifth season.
“In the off season, the Cowboys referred to as me and inquired why they hadn’t heard from my agent to barter a new contract. I then allow them to learn about my plans to field. After they requested a second time, and received the identical response, they knew I was critical they usually couldn’t change my thoughts. I made it clear to them that it was not in regards to the cash.
“The Cowboys revered my determination. Maybe they thought I might determine to play soccer for them once more, I don’t know, however on the time I had no intention of ever coming again.
“My teammates had been very supportive. We had been very shut. They had been glad for me as a result of I was doing what I wished to, I was dwelling my dream.
“When I played football I would go to the fights in the off season, and basically live in the boxing gym run by Rayford Collins. I knew that I could box and be successful if I put all my energy into it.”
At 28, Jones was a late bloomer to boxing, however his scenario was far totally different from most. “Boxers are the best conditioned athletes in the world,” Too Tall opines, “but I was always in shape from my time with the Cowboys. I also had become good friends with Ken Norton and Larry Holmes who I could have potentially fought down the line, but both were extremely supportive. I met with Norton, who had me come to his training camp in California before he boxed Earnie Shavers. I remember the great advice he gave me, that I should keep the big entourage out of my career and my inner circle tight. Holmes showed up at a press conference before one of my matches because he wanted to show his support.”
Jones, with the assistance of his agent Don Cronson, settled on Dave Wolf to handle his boxing profession and Murphy Griffith, the Uncle of Emile Griffith to coach him.
Gina Andriolo is the present occasion coordinator of the Boxing Writers Association of America. At the time she was engaged to Wolf and was serving to with the promotion and advertising of Jones. “The provision was that Too Tall would have to move to New York, to train,” says Andriolo. “He got himself an apartment off Central Park West, near the Museum of Natural History. I remember him as a very quiet individual who took boxing seriously. He worked out at the Times Square Gym on 42nd Street under Murphy Griffith, who had a military background and pushed him hard. Everything Too Tall wore had to be custom made; the trunks, robe and shoes. He was a very big man.”
Shortly after Jones got here on board, Wolf and Griffith advised him about an newbie boxer they had been attempting to signal. They enlisted Too Tall’s assist. Being a well-known NFL star may solely assist in the course of the recruiting course of. “We all went to Youngstown, Ohio to recruit [Ray] ‘Boom Boom’ Mancini,” says Jones. “We met his mother and father and associates. Murph and Dave each stated his type was significantly better fitted to the professionals than the amateurs.
“Boom Boom’s mother was nervous about him going to New York, and where he would stay. When Murph offered to allow Boom Boom to sleep on his couch [in his small apartment on the upper west side of Manhattan], a deal was struck.”
Mancini and Jones had been now stablemates. In a sense he turned Too Tall’s new teammate, filling in a void that was lacking from now not taking part in for the Cowboys.
“Because of our age difference [10 years], we were not that close, but Boom Boom was someone I liked a great deal and had tremendous respect for,” says Jones. “I knew the bond he had with his father. I never met anyone in my life who worked harder than he did.”
Ed “Too Tall” Jones alongside Larry Holmes, Michael Spinks and Ray Mercer
In most circles Jones’ foray into boxing is ridiculed. That he received all six of his contests, 5 by stoppage, is taken into account rather more the results of meticulous matchmaking than it’s any skill he possessed. “Nonsense,” says Mancini, who boxed on the undercard of 5 of Jones’ fights, solely lacking the primary one when he needed to pull out because of sickness. “Too Tall was a authentic fighter who educated actually arduous and lived the lifetime of a fighter. His opponents had been credible for a fighter first beginning out. They had been no totally different than what a fighter popping out of the Olympics would face.
“I did roadwork with Too Tall and watched him in the gym. He had a jab that would KO guys. He punched so hard that you could feel the building shake. And when Too Tall sparred it was against real fighters. He was an inspiration to me when I saw he could afford a nice apartment. He deserved it.”
There is not any movie footage accessible from Jones’ time within the ring that may be discovered on YouTube. Being that CBS tv within the United States broadcast all of his fights nationally, it’s a thriller what has turn into of them. This author reached out to David Dinkins Jnr, the chief producer for the Showtime Network which is affiliated with CBS. The hope was that Dinkins, who began working at CBS shortly after Jones retired, would shed some gentle on why the matches aren’t accessible to the general public. But understandably he had no solutions and didn’t know who would. Decades have handed, folks have moved on. It isn’t precisely struggle footage that’s in demand like Harry Greb’s.
The lack of visible protection provides to the mystique of Jones. It was that mystique which made his skilled debut one of the anticipated in boxing historical past. So a lot in order that the $72,500 Jones earned for his opening bout was then largest purse ever given to a debutant. To put it into perspective, Sugar Ray Leonard, America’s darling by advantage of successful a gold medal within the 1976 Olympics in Montreal, had been paid $40,000 for his debut three years prior.
First impressions are often very important. There could be no rebounding from a unhealthy one. For Jones there wasn’t. Of his six fights, one stands out; his professional debut towards Abraham Yaqui Menenses. The Mexican was gifting away six inches and 50lbs. He entered the ring with a 5-6 (5) document. Physically, a minimum of, it regarded like a mismatch.
An spectacular knockout by Too Tall would have whet followers’ urge for food going ahead, however he barely survived and received a majority six-round determination by scores of 57-57, 57-56, and 58-55.
In the final spherical, a left hook dropped Jones who was then flagrantly hit whereas down. A disqualification would have been justified, however the referee Buddy Basilico later admitted to underestimating the severity of the foul blow. Jones struggled to his toes earlier than the ten rely and, prematurely, Meneses charged at him. While this was occurring, Griffith was on the ring apron allegedly trying to manage smelling salts to Jones. In any occasion it was near a half-minute from the time Too Tall was dropped to when the motion formally resumed. The break helped him survive to the ultimate bell.
Jones’ model is considerably totally different. “I was not knocked down, I slipped and he hit me while I was getting up. It threw my equilibrium off. We wanted a guy to fight. Yaqui ran. I had trained for a different type of fight.”
Although the choice in Jones’ favour was truthful, to the general public his limitations had been uncovered. In actuality, Jones was nothing greater than a novice who wanted time to develop, however the tv publicity coupled with the massive paydays made it crucial he carry out at a excessive stage.
Jones was again within the ring 10 days later in Phoenix, towards Lee Holloman, proprietor of a 1-15-2 document. There was no drama as Jones grinded the Dallas heavyweight down, stopping him within the ultimate spherical of their six. “He was an unorthodox fighter,” Jones recalled. I was attempting to develop as a fighter. I knew it will take time.”
Jones’ exercise stage is to be admired. Before the month was out he fought but once more, this time in Washington DC, towards Mexican Herman Montes, a veteran with an 18-12 document. Jones did the enterprise contained in the scheduled six, stopping Montes at 41 seconds of the opening spherical. An spectacular accomplishment contemplating that Duane Bobick, a real contender, wanted three rounds to dispatch of Montes earlier within the 12 months. At the time, the massive man felt that was a breakthrough for him. “After the match my sparring partners were telling me how much I had been improving.”
Too Tall’s inevitable homecoming occurred in his fourth match when he returned to Dallas, to face Phoenix heavyweight Jim Wallace, 2-3 (2). It was his solely opponent out of the six who outweighed him, even when it was simply by two kilos (246 to 248). Jones’ weight ranged from 243 – 255 ½lbs, for his six fights. When he performed soccer it was extra.
“During the week my team [Cowboys] showed up to watch me train. I told my people to get them as many tickets to the fight as they want and that they could bring family and friends. Well, they got me good. Some of my teammates sold their extra tickets and pocketed the money,” Jones remembers.
“Before the fight Muhammad Ali came up to me and said don’t duck punches, slip punches. It was good advice that I listened to.”
Jones stopped Wallace with one second left within the second spherical, however labels him the hardest man he fought. “He could punch really hard,” says Jones. “I felt the breeze from his punches when he missed.”
Too Tall was boxing so incessantly and at all times at a totally different venue it felt like he was on tour.
Fight 5 got here the next month towards Tennessee heavyweight, Billy Joe Thomas, in Indianapolis. Jones’ training continued as he gained a fourth spherical stoppage. He says he remembers nothing in regards to the struggle. Thomas was winless in 4 matches, shedding three of them inside the space however he would subsequently final into the fifth spherical with Earnie Shavers and go seven with Mike Weaver.
A mere 4 days after disposing of Thomas, Too Tall was again within the ring towards a San Antonio boxer named Rocky Gonzalez who was making his debut. Gonzalez would by no means field once more after being stretched by Too Tall in a single spherical. “I caught him with a good punch early,” says Jones. “I was shocked it ended that quickly. I never went into a fight thinking I would knock an opponent out in the first round. I knew it might be my last fight.” And it was. Shortly after Jones introduced he was returning to play for the Cowboys.
Feeling that the mystique of seeing Jones within the ring had worn off, CBS made the choice to not telecast any extra of his matches. Some surmised that with out the tv income, Jones’ paydays in boxing would have been lowered considerably making it not financially worthwhile for him to hold on. Jones dismisses that thought. “That is the furthest thing from the truth. I was making more money off of my different contracts from endorsement deals than I was from the Cowboys.”
The most blatant thought is that, in contrast to soccer, Jones’ final potential in boxing was restricted. His return to soccer was inevitable within the minds of many after he gave boxing a critical attempt. “I knew it would be difficult,” Jones says of his abbreviated profession, “but I intended to be in it for the long haul. The money did not mean a thing to me. The plan was to box guys in the top 20 as soon as I was ready.”
So why did Jones, now 71 and residing in Dallas, go away the game that he professes to like greater than another? “It is personal”, he says. “Someday I will tell the real reason.”
Mancini feels he already is aware of. “Too Tall had bodily limitations. His arms had been actually unhealthy. Griff needed to put further padding on his arms to guard them. A fighter with actually unhealthy arms is at a extreme handicap. Had he not had the hand issues there isn’t any telling how far he may need gone.
“I can assure you that Too Tall wanted so badly to succeed. His potential was unlimited, but realistically I am not sure if he had the agility to have gone to the top. He certainly had it in football, but boxing is different. We will never know, but to me his time in boxing was a success.”
This a lot we do know: Boxing made Jones an even higher soccer participant when he returned. In his first three years again he made the professional bowl staff, the final word particular person honour an lively participant may obtain. “Boxing made being a Dallas Cowboy fun again,” says Jones. “I liked going to observe, learning recreation movie and all the pieces else about soccer as a result of I was in a position to dwell my dream of being a boxer. I felt then and nonetheless do this boxing is the best sport on the planet.
“I don’t care about the critics, not one bit, I really don’t.”
Jones begins to then record his accomplishments in soccer and talks about his 15-year profession (1974-1989) that appear Hall of Fame worthy, but he has not been enshrined in Canton, Ohio with the opposite greats of the gridiron. “People assume I’m in the pro football Hall of Fame, but I’m not. My friends get upset, but I never concern myself with it.”
Critics stay, however the constructive legacy Jones left in boxing was obvious in 2008 when he served as the Grand Marshal of the parade in the course of the Hall of Fame induction weekend in Canastota. “He interacted great with all the people. Our volunteers loved him,” stated govt director Ed Brophy. “He was polite and accommodating to everyone. Because he loves boxing he understood and had respect for the achievements of the fighters there. We would love to have him come back.”
Too Tall Jones entered and left boxing on his personal phrases. There aren’t many different fighters who can say that.
Ed “Too Tall” Jones walks the crimson carpet on the 2018 So the World May Hear Awards Gala benefitting Starkey Hearing Foundation on the Saint Paul River Centre on July 15, 2018 in St. Paul, Minnesota (Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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