Barry Jones

World Champion Boxer

Barry Jones was born on 3 May 1974 in Ely, Cardiff, and remains one of Welsh boxing's great "what might have been" stories. Turning professional in 1992 at just eighteen under trainer Pat Thomas - himself a former British welterweight champion - Jones built a reputation as a skilled, disciplined super-featherweight, and he remains the only Welsh boxer to have won a Silver Medal at the European Junior Championships.

His finest hour came on 19 December 1997 at London Arena, where he took the WBO super-featherweight world title from Wilson Palacio by unanimous decision. He successfully defended the belt against Frenchman Affif Djelti before controversy struck: in 1998 the British Boxing Board of Control revoked his boxing licence after an anomaly was discovered during a routine brain scan, stripping him of the title he had never lost in the ring.

He fought on for a period regardless, but his final professional bout - against Brazilian puncher Acelino Freitas in January 2000 - ended in an eighth-round stoppage after Jones was knocked down six times. He never fought professionally again, retiring with a record of 18 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. He has since built a well-respected second career as a boxing analyst and commentator for Sky Sports, BT Sport, BoxNation and MTK Global's iFL TV.

WBO super-featherweight world champion in 1997 - stripped of the title on medical grounds having never lost it in the ring, now a respected boxing commentator

Jones remains the only Welsh boxer to have won a Silver Medal at the European Junior Championships, an early sign of the talent that trainer Pat Thomas would go on to develop through the 1990s. His world title win over Wilson Palacio at London Arena in December 1997 was scored a clean sweep on the judges' cards (116-112, 118-110, 118-110).

The circumstances of losing his title remain a point of sympathy among Welsh boxing fans: Jones was never beaten for the WBO belt, but had his licence revoked by the British Boxing Board of Control in 1998 after doctors flagged an anomaly on a brain scan - a medical, not sporting, decision. He returned to the ring under different jurisdiction but was stopped in the eighth round by the hard-hitting Acelino Freitas in January 2000, a defeat that brought his career to a close. He has remained closely involved in the sport ever since as a boxing analyst and commentator.

Career Highlights

Only Welsh boxer to win a Silver Medal at the European Junior Championships
Turned professional in 1992 aged 18, trained by former British champion Pat Thomas
Won the WBO super-featherweight world title, London Arena, 19 December 1997
Successfully defended the WBO title against Affif Djelti
Retired with a professional record of 18 wins, 1 loss, 1 draw
Now works as a boxing commentator for Sky Sports, BT Sport, BoxNation and iFL TV

ℹ️ Born 3 May 1974, Ely, Cardiff, Wales

Born and raised in Ely, Cardiff, Wales

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