James Edward Jones

James Edward Jones, 1996 DC’s Boxing Hall of Fame boxer, trainer, school pioneer and promotor passed away after a long illness on Sunday August 18, 2019. James was born June 22, 1938 at 10:48 pm at Cincinnati Ohio General Hospital. He once noted " At precisely the same time, Joe Lewis knocked out Max Smelling for the Heavyweight World Boxing title. Coincidence or not, I always read something into my birth and that title fight." Jim Ed Jones’ career has spanned every aspect of boxing from competitor to promoter, manager, trainer and educator. Born in Ohio, Jim Ed was introduced to the sport in Richmond, Virginia, at the age of 15. Four years later he won his first medal, as a light-middleweight at the Virginia Amateur Golden Gloves Championship and culminated his career as a heavyweight in 1975 with a win over Billy Howard. In the 1970’s he formed the Northern Virginia Boxing Club working out of his Arlington home encouraging young boxers to participate in amateur and professional bouts. Under his guidance, many of these athletes triumphed in local and national championships. In 1980 he opened the Olympia Boxing Center in Falls Church, VA, where his unique training concepts produced many star athletes whom he also managed and promoted, including “Irish” ‘Mike Baker, Tony “The Witch Doctor” Ojo, Scott Farmer, Willie “the Heat” Taylor, and two World Kickboxing Champions, Jeff Smith and Rodney Batiste. He trained and managed his son, Jimmy, to the level of national champion. Jim Ed Jones developed a training program that gave his students the tremendous rewards of boxing by combining aerobic fitness with the pugilistic skills needed for the art of self-defense; he was one of the first trainers to admit women to his renowned boxing center. Coach Jones devoted his career to expanding the knowledge and skills of the art of boxing to individuals of all walks of life. He is survived by his longtime companion Joanne Barrera of Arlington, VA, daughter, Lisa Fox of Thornburg, VA, granddaughter Danielle Mae Linda Fox of Fredericksburg, VA, granddaughter Dawn Marie Hart of Daytona, FL, son, James D. Jones, Grandson James D. Jones Jr., and granddaughter Emily Jones of Westminster, MD, daughter Gail Jones and husband Scott D. Sanzone of Reisterstown, MD, son, Duane Jones of Tybee Island, GA, daughter, Kamera Loren McCain and husband Arn McCain of Sherman Oaks, CA, son, Randolph Jones of Bristow, VA and daughter Christine Coleman, husband Rocco Coleman and granddaughter Larissa Coleman of Burke, VA.