20 Facts you need to know about Dave Jones
BBN found out a list of interesting facts about heavyweight sensation Daniel Dubois' next ring opponent, Dave Jones. The heavyweight rivals are set to clash on February 10 at the Copper Box Arena.
1. Dave Jones is listed on BoxRec as DL Jones.
2. He debuted in September 2014 and is currently nine fights unbeaten.
3. The 36-year-old was born on the Isle of Sheppey and lives in Queenborough in Kent.
4. His favourite boxer of all-time is Muhammed Ali, and he lists The Thriller in Manilla as his favourite fight in boxing history.
5. He first started boxing at Sheerness ABC, then, after joining the army, was selected to box for the Royal Engineers and became an army heavyweight champion, eventually being selected to represent the army boxing team.
6. He was a good amateur, reaching the semi-finals of the Novice ABA’s, and his last amateur fight was in the ABA Elites when he lost to Nick Webb, who was later defeated by the overall winner, Joe Joyce.
7. Jones also played a lot of basketball and rugby during his youth, admitting that he always preferred using his hands, and that he was “crap at football”, despite being a big fan of the game.
8. The unbeaten heavyweight is trained by Ray Askew and Sam Latham at the Invicta Gym, and is managed by Joe Elfidh, the head honcho of JE Promotions, who was also trained by Ray Askew as a pro when he was known as ‘The Moroccan Machine’.
9. He beat Midlands Area heavyweight champion Paul Butlin in his third fight at the Grays Civic Hall in Essex in March 2015.
10. Jones won the International Challenge belt in his seventh fight against Jiri Svacini, who was a Czech International light-heavyweight champion that has shared the ring with world champion Enzo Maccarinelli, as well as British champions Sam Sexton, Jon Lewis Dickinson and Matty Askin.
11. Jones and Dubois both fought Dorian Darch in their last fights. Jones was involved in an all-out war with the Welshman whereas ‘Dynamite’ dispatched him in the second round after four knockdowns.
12. The Kent puncher has been involved in 46 rounds during his three-year professional career, considerably more than Dubois’ number of just nine.
13. Jones is positioned at no.17 in BoxRec’s ranking, just below Joe Joyce and five spots below his forthcoming foe, Dubois.
14. Dave has a pre-fight ritual to wear the same pants for every fight, not being superstitious but just because they’re so comfortable, although, they recently got ripped and are now unwearable!
15. Local band, Big River, will be playing their single ‘Hometown Hustle’ for his ring walk song on February 10. Dave is good mates with the lead singer, Adam Bartholomew.
16. The Medway man loves holidaying in sunny Egypt and is very partial to a sunbed every now and then.
17. After this fight, the 6ft 5in giant will be starting a new job in the prison service at the local HM Prison Elmley in Sheppey.
18. The Gillingham FC fan is a father of two and an FA qualified coach, as he manages the local football team that his son plays for – Range Rovers Under 10 Colts, who play in the Maidstone District Premier League.
19. The undefeated boxer rates Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua as the best heavyweights in the world.
20. From personal experience, he rates David Price as the best boxer he’s sparred with, and Dave Allen as the “most awkward, frustrating and toughest”.