[2] Born in Porth and raised in a coal mining family, Jones made his name at a local level, fighting in boxing booths.

He beat Symonds twice more later that year, and in November stopped Sam Kellar in the fifteenth round in a final eliminator for the vacant British flyweight title.

This led to a challenge in January 1914 for Bill Ladbury's title, Jones winning on points to be recognised as champion of Britain, Europe, and the World.

[3][5] He lost to Eugene Criqui in his next (non-title) fight, but beat the Frenchman on points in April in a defence of his European title.

[11] World War I interrupted his boxing career with Jones enlisting in the Glamorgan Bantam Battalion of the Welsh Army Service Corps on 2 January 1915.