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06/10/2008 Archived Entry: "Too Tall Jones Reflects on Toughest Bout"
Too Tall Jones Reflects on Toughest Bout
By Mike DeLisa
CANASTOTA, NY -- His pro career spanned just 6 bouts in under 90 days, but fans still recall Ed "Too tall"" Jones as both boxer and football star. On Saturday in Canastota, a still physically imposing Ed "Too Tall" Jones sat at the edge of the dais while Inductee Eddie Perkins immersed his hand in a bucket for the fist casting.
"My last fight convinced me to pack it in," recalled Jones. "I fought Rocky Gonzales in Jackson. I hadn't even met Gonzales before i stepped into the ring with him -- he was the biggest Mexican I ever saw, about six-five and 280 pounds. Supposedly he couldn't fight but he came at me like Wolverine from the X-Men, throwing bombs and cursing at me in Spanish. He made Yaqui Meneses look like the second coming of Jack Dempsey. I just closed my eyes and tried to defend myself. Then the referee grabbed me and I thought he was stopping it to protect me, but Gonzales was on the floor! I promised myself if he didn't get up I would quit. He didn't, and here I am! I still exchange Christmas cars with Gonzales, but that was the first and last time I saw the guy."
At the collector's show a photo autographed by Jones and Gonzales was snapped up for $275 by one collector who wished to remain anonymous.
