Peter Jackson (boxer) explained

Realname:Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson
Nickname:Peter the Great, Black Prince
Weight:Heavyweight
Birth Date:1861 7, df=yes
Birth Place:Christiansted, Saint Croix, Danish West Indies
Death Place:Roma, Queensland, Australia
Total:105
Wins:57
Ko:29
Losses:5
Draws:15
No Contests:28
Height:6ft 1+1/2 in

Peter Jackson (3 July 1861 – 13 July 1901)[1] was an Australian heavyweight boxer who had a significant international career. Jackson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in the inaugural 1990 class, as well as being the 2004 inductee for the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame in the Pioneers category.

Early life

Jackson was born in Christiansted on the island Saint Croix, which was then the capital of the Danish West Indies (subsequently, part of the U.S. Virgin Islands). His family originally came from Montego Bay, Jamaica.[2] His father, also called Peter Jackson, was a warehouseman and the grandson of a freed slave who had been owned by a planter with the surname of Jackson. Born a free man, Peter was in principle (at least) a Danish citizen before he gained Australian citizenship. Jackson had a good primary school education before becoming a mariner. Originally working on ships as a deckhand in the Sydney Docks since he was 14, he used his fists to quell a mutiny. This garnered him some notoriety and brought him to the attention of Larry Foley which started his career in boxing.

Professional career

Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title in 1886 with a knockout of Tom Lees in the 30th round. Jackson was at one stage a pupil of "The Black Diamond" Jack Dowridge, a Barbadian immigrant who pioneered boxing in Queensland, Australia. Among Dowridge's other pupils was "Gentleman Jack" John Reid McGowan, a fellow Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame Inductee. After establishing his boxing career, and like many of Australia's best boxers of this era, Jackson left for America. He arrived in San Francisco on 12 May 1888.[1] and promptly beat "Old Chocolate" Godfrey to gain the World Colored Heavyweight Championship. During his stay in America, Jackson frequently sparred with Lees. Jackson would become an instructor at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco. He was considered one of the most "scientific" boxers of his day due to his footwork and technical proficiency.[1] [3]

Jackson would once again embark on to strange lands after a year in America, leaving that country for Great Britain. Jackson fought for a 1,000 pounds and the inaugural British Commonwealth title against Jem Smith, winning due to the latter's use of wrestling tactics in the second round.[4] Later that year, during a short stay in Dublin, Jackson challenged anyone to stay in the ring with him for 4 rounds. Local champion Peter Maher, who was 20 years old at the time, was the man who took up his bet. Jackson thoroughly beat him in 3 rounds. Maher would go on to have a successful career, winning over 100 bouts. During Jackson's later years there was talk of a rematch against Maher that never materialized.[1]

Jackson repeatedly tried to secure a fight against world champion John L. Sullivan to no avail. Sullivan cited the color bar as the reason for his refusal, claiming he would never fight a black man. Although there is no data to support that claim since Sullivan had on several occasions been scheduled to fight Black fighters such as "Old Chocolate", George Godfrey and a fighter named "Johnson" whose first name has been lost to history. The Godfrey bout was broken up by police as both men were stripped and ready to fight. On 21 May 1891, in Benicia, California Jackson fought the future world champion James Corbett. The match with Corbett went 61 rounds before it was declared no contest, as both boxers were too exhausted to continue. Jackson's last defense of his Commonwealth title came against his long-time rival and fellow Australian Frank Slavin. Both Slavin and Jackson had trained under Larry Foley and a real feud had existed between them for several years, due to Slavin's racism and a romantic triangle with a woman named Josie Leon. Although they had brawled before, this was the first and only professional bout between them. After a frenetic start to the fight, Jackson would gain the upper hand en route to a 10th-round knockout of Slavin.[5]

After a long hiatus in which he only took part in exhibitions, he lost a bout to the powerfully built James J. Jeffries. Jeffries was another great boxer who would hold the championship of the world in the early 1900s.

Life after boxing

Jackson gained some fame during his stay in America. He stated his desire to play Othello, but it never came to fruition.[6] However, he starred in a touring production of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Despite his celebrity, Jackson would run into financial troubles following his retirement from the ring. Jackson's health rapidly decayed following his bout against Jeffries, making it impossible for him to box. Several benefits were held in order to send him back to Australia.[7]

Jackson died of tuberculosis in Roma, Queensland and was buried at Toowong Cemetery. A short time after becoming the first black heavyweight champion of the world in 1908, "The Galveston Giant" Jack Johnson, made a pilgrimage to Jackson's grave, a measure of the respect in which the man was held not only in Queensland, but in the boxing community worldwide.[8] Jackson's tomb is emblazoned with the words "This was a man".

Professional boxing record

All information in this section is derived from BoxRec,[9] unless otherwise stated.

Official record

All newspaper decisions are officially regarded as “no decision” bouts and are not counted in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
105Loss42–5–3 Jim JeffordsTKO4 (20)Aug 23, 1899
104Loss42–4–3 James J. JeffriesTKO3 (20)Mar 22, 1898
103Win42–3–3 Denny KelliherNWS3Nov 28, 1892
102Win42–3–3 Frank SlavinKO10 (20)May 30, 1892
101Win41–3–3 Joe ButlerPTS3Feb 17, 1892
100Win40–3–3 James DaltonKO3 (?)Jan 12, 1892
99Win39–3–3 Jack KingTKO2 (?)Jan 12, 1892
98NC38–3–3 James J. CorbettNC61 (?)May 21, 1891
97Draw38–3–3 Mick DooleyNWS4Nov 19, 1890
96Draw38–3–3 Joe GoddardPTS8OCt 20, 1890
95ND38–3–2 William PowerND3Sep 26, 1890
94ND38–3–2 WH WatsonND3Sep 26, 1890
93ND38–3–2 William PowerND3Sep 23, 1890
92ND38–3–2 WH WatsonND3Sep 23, 1890
91Draw38–3–2 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 18, 1890
90Win38–3–2 Mick O'BrienNWS4Sep 13, 1890
89Draw38–3–2 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 9, 1890
88Draw38–3–2 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 8, 1890
87ND38–3–2 Jack BurkeND6Sep 6, 1890
86Draw38–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS3Sep 2, 1890
85Draw38–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS4Aug 30, 1890
84Win38–3–2 Tom JohnsonPTS4Jul 22, 1890
83Win37–3–2 Denver Ed SmithPTS5May 19, 1890
82Win36–3–2 Dick KeatingKO1 (4)Apr 1, 1890
81ND35–3–2 Gus LambertND4Mar 5, 1890
8035–3–2 Jack FallonNC2 (?)Mar 4, 1890
79Win35–3–2 The GypsyKO2 (4)Feb 21, 1890
78Win34–3–2 James J. WalkerKO1 (4)Feb 20, 1890
77Win33–3–2 Peter MaherRTD3 (4)Dec 24, 1889
76Win32–3–2 Scotchy GunnPTS4Dec 2, 1889
75Win31–3–2 W WoodhamsTKO3 (4)Dec 2, 1889
74Win30–3–2 Sailor WhiteTKO3 (4)Nov 29, 1889
73Win29–3–2 Woolf BendoffTKO2 (4)Nov 29, 1889
72Win28–3–2 SkinnerDQ2 (4)Nov 7, 1889
71Win27–3–2 Charles BurginTKO2 (4)Nov 23, 1889
70Win26–3–2 Horace HorriganTKO2 (4)Nov 21, 1889
69Win25–3–2 Jem SmithDQ2 (10)Nov 11, 1889
68Win24–3–2 Alf MitchellPTS4Oct 15, 1889
67Win23–3–2 Alf BallKO2 (4)Oct 15, 1889
66Win22–3–2 Jem YoungPTS4Oct 14, 1889
65Win21–3–2 Jack PartridgeKO3 (4)Oct 7, 1889
64Win20–3–2 Jack FallonPTS4Aug 19, 1889
63Win19–3–2 James Ginger McCormickKO2 (?)Aug 9, 1889
62Win18–3–2 Billy BakerRTD3 (4)Aug 8, 1889
61Win17–3–2 Paddy BrennanTKO1 (4)Aug 5, 1889
60Win16–3–2 Tom LynchDQ2 (4)Jul 30, 1889
59Win15–3–2 Billy BakerPTS4Jul 29, 1889
58ND14–3–2 Tom LeesND4Jul 27, 1889
57Win14–3–2 George PetersTKO3 (4)Jul 25, 1889
56Win13–3–2 Charles BrownTKO4 (?)Jul 11, 1889
55ND12–3–2 Tom LeesTKO2 (?)Jun 15, 1889
54Win12–3–2 Shorty KincaidTKO2 (?)May 11, 1889
53Win11–3–2 Patsy CardiffTKO10 (?)Apr 26, 1889
52Win10–3–2 Joe McAuliffeKO24 (?)Dec 28, 1888
51Win9–3–2 George GodfreyTKO19 (?)Aug 24, 1888
50Win8–3–2 M.J. SullivanKO2 (?)Jun 20, 1888
49Draw7–3–2 Larry FoleyNWS4Apr 17, 1888
48Draw7–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS4Mar 17, 1888
47Win7–3–2 Tom TaylorNWS4Feb 11, 1888
46Draw7–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS4Feb 4, 1888
45ND7–3–2 Mick DooleyND4Jan 26, 1888
44Loss7–3–2 Martin CostelloPTS4Jan 14, 1888
43ND7–2–2 Mick DooleyND2 (?)Dec 24, 1887
42ND7–2–2 Stonewall JackND2 (?)Nov 26, 1887
41ND7–2–2 Steve O'DonnellND3Oct 22, 1887
40ND7–2–2 Steve O'DonnellND3Oct 1, 1887
39Win7–2–2 Jim NolanKO1 (4)Sep 24, 1887
38Win6–2–2 Harry StanleyNWS4Aug 27, 1887
37ND6–2–2 Jim NolanND4Aug 25, 1887
36ND6–2–2 Tom TaylorND4Aug 6, 1887
35Win6–2–2 Steve O'DonnellNWS4Jul 16, 1887
34ND6–2–2 Dan HickeyND4Jul 9, 1887
33Win6–2–2 Jim NolanNWS4Jun 25, 1887
32Draw6–2–2 George SealeNWS4Jun 11, 1887
31Win6–2–2 Jim NolanNWS4Jun 4, 1887
30Win6–2–2 Mick O'BrienKO1 (6)Apr 23, 1887
29Win5–2–2 Pat KielyNWS4Apr 6, 1887
28ND5–2–2 Pat KielyND4Feb 15, 1887
27ND5–2–2 Pat KielyND4Nov 20, 1886
26ND5–2–2 Steve O'DonnellND4Oct 9, 1886
25ND5–2–2 Jack MalloyND4Oct 2, 1886
24Win5–2–2 Tom LeesTKO30 (?)Sep 25, 1886
23Draw4–2–2 Billy McCarthyNWS4Aug 25, 1886
22ND4–2–2 Hugh HealeyND4Aug 15, 1886
21Win4–2–2 RileyNWS3Aug 7, 1886
20Win4–2–2 Dan HickeyNWS4Jul 17, 1886
19Win4–2–2 Tom TaylorNWS3Jul 12, 1886
18Loss4–2–2 Pablo FanquePTS4May 22, 1886
17Win4–1–2 Bob BerbsNWS4Apr 3, 1886
16Win4–1–2 Herbert GoddardNWS4Apr 3, 1886
15Win4–1–2 Mick DooleyKO3 (6)Mar 27, 1886
14Draw3–1–2 Jack ThompsonNWS4Mar 13, 1886
13ND3–1–2 Unknown SladeND4May 28, 1885
12Win3–1–2 Mick DooleyNWS4May 28, 1885
11ND3–1–2 William MillerND4May 2, 1885
10ND3–1–2 Larry FoleyND3May 1, 1885
9Draw3–1–2 Bill FarnanPTS6 (6)Sep 23, 1884
8Loss3–1–1 Bill FarnanTKO4 (?)Jul 26, 1884
7Win3–0–1 Mick DooleyNWS4Jun 25, 1884
6ND3–0–1 Tom LeesND4Feb 2, 1884
5Win3–0–1 Tom LeesPTS4Jan 31, 1884
4Win2–0–1 George CaveKO1 (6)Jan 28, 1884
31–0–1 Tom LeesND6Jan 28, 1884
2Win1–0–1DubboPTS?Mar 1, 1882
1Draw0–0–1Jack HayesPTS5Jan 1, 1882

Unofficial record

Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.

ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes
105Loss57–5–15 Jim JeffordsTKO4 (20)Aug 23, 1899
104Loss57–4–15 James J. JeffriesTKO3 (20)Mar 22, 1898
103Win57–3–15 Denny KelliherNWS3Nov 28, 1892
102Win56–3–15 Frank SlavinKO10 (20)May 30, 1892
101Win55–3–15 Joe ButlerPTS3Feb 17, 1892
100Win54–3–15 James DaltonKO3 (?)Jan 12, 1892
99Win53–3–15 Jack KingTKO2 (?)Jan 12, 1892
98NC52–3–15 James J. CorbettNC61 (?)May 21, 1891
97Draw52–3–15 Mick DooleyNWS4Nov 19, 1890
96Draw52–3–14 Joe GoddardPTS8OCt 20, 1890
95ND52–3–13 William PowerND3Sep 26, 1890
94ND52–3–13 WH WatsonND3Sep 26, 1890
93ND52–3–13 William PowerND3Sep 23, 1890
92ND52–3–13 WH WatsonND3Sep 23, 1890
91Draw52–3–13 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 18, 1890
90Win52–3–12 Mick O'BrienNWS4Sep 13, 1890
89Draw51–3–12 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 9, 1890
88Draw51–3–11 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 8, 1890
87ND51–3–10 Jack BurkeND6Sep 6, 1890
86Draw51–3–10 Mick DooleyNWS3Sep 2, 1890
85Draw51–3–9 Mick DooleyNWS4Aug 30, 1890
84Win51–3–8 Tom JohnsonPTS4Jul 22, 1890
83Win50–3–8 Denver Ed SmithPTS5May 19, 1890
82Win49–3–8 Dick KeatingKO1 (4)Apr 1, 1890
81ND48–3–8 Gus LambertND4Mar 5, 1890
8048–3–8 Jack FallonNC2 (?)Mar 4, 1890
79Win48–3–8 The GypsyKO2 (4)Feb 21, 1890
78Win47–3–8 James J. WalkerKO1 (4)Feb 20, 1890
77Win46–3–8 Peter MaherRTD3 (4)Dec 24, 1889
76Win45–3–8 Scotchy GunnPTS4Dec 2, 1889
75Win44–3–8 W WoodhamsTKO3 (4)Dec 2, 1889
74Win43–3–8 Sailor WhiteTKO3 (4)Nov 29, 1889
73Win42–3–8 Woolf BendoffTKO2 (4)Nov 29, 1889
72Win41–3–8 SkinnerDQ2 (4)Nov 7, 1889
71Win40–3–8 Charles BurginTKO2 (4)Nov 23, 1889
70Win39–3–8 Horace HorriganTKO2 (4)Nov 21, 1889
69Win38–3–8 Jem SmithDQ2 (10)Nov 11, 1889
68Win37–3–8 Alf MitchellPTS4Oct 15, 1889
67Win36–3–8 Alf BallKO2 (4)Oct 15, 1889
66Win35–3–8 Jem YoungPTS4Oct 14, 1889
65Win34–3–8 Jack PartridgeKO3 (4)Oct 7, 1889
64Win33–3–8 Jack FallonPTS4Aug 19, 1889
63Win32–3–8 James Ginger McCormickKO2 (?)Aug 9, 1889
62Win31–3–8 Billy BakerRTD3 (4)Aug 8, 1889
61Win30–3–8 Paddy BrennanTKO1 (4)Aug 5, 1889
60Win29–3–8 Tom LynchDQ2 (4)Jul 30, 1889
59Win28–3–8 Billy BakerPTS4Jul 29, 1889
58ND27–3–8 Tom LeesND4Jul 27, 1889
57Win27–3–8 George PetersTKO3 (4)Jul 25, 1889
56Win26–3–8 Charles BrownTKO4 (?)Jul 11, 1889
55ND25–3–8 Tom LeesTKO2 (?)Jun 15, 1889
54Win25–3–8 Shorty KincaidTKO2 (?)May 11, 1889
53Win24–3–8 Patsy CardiffTKO10 (?)Apr 26, 1889
52Win23–3–8 Joe McAuliffeKO24 (?)Dec 28, 1888
51Win22–3–8 George GodfreyTKO19 (?)Aug 24, 1888
50Win21–3–8 M.J. SullivanKO2 (?)Jun 20, 1888
49Draw20–3–8 Larry FoleyNWS4Apr 17, 1888
48Draw20–3–7 Mick DooleyNWS4Mar 17, 1888
47Win20–3–6 Tom TaylorNWS4Feb 11, 1888
46Draw19–3–6 Mick DooleyNWS4Feb 4, 1888
45ND19–3–5 Mick DooleyND4Jan 26, 1888
44Loss19–3–5 Martin CostelloPTS4Jan 14, 1888
43ND19–2–5 Mick DooleyND2 (?)Dec 24, 1887
42ND19–2–5 Stonewall JackND2 (?)Nov 26, 1887
41ND19–2–5 Steve O'DonnellND3Oct 22, 1887
40ND19–2–5 Steve O'DonnellND3Oct 1, 1887
39Win19–2–5 Jim NolanKO1 (4)Sep 24, 1887
38Win18–2–5 Harry StanleyNWS4Aug 27, 1887
37ND17–2–5 Jim NolanND4Aug 25, 1887
36ND17–2–5 Tom TaylorND4Aug 6, 1887
35Win17–2–5 Steve O'DonnellNWS4Jul 16, 1887
34ND16–2–5 Dan HickeyND4Jul 9, 1887
33Win16–2–5 Jim NolanNWS4Jun 25, 1887
32Draw15–2–5 George SealeNWS4Jun 11, 1887
31Win15–2–4 Jim NolanNWS4Jun 4, 1887
30Win14–2–4 Mick O'BrienKO1 (6)Apr 23, 1887
29Win13–2–4 Pat KielyNWS4Apr 6, 1887
28ND12–2–4 Pat KielyND4Feb 15, 1887
27ND12–2–4 Pat KielyND4Nov 20, 1886
26ND12–2–4 Steve O'DonnellND4Oct 9, 1886
25ND12–2–4 Jack MalloyND4Oct 2, 1886
24Win12–2–4 Tom LeesTKO30 (?)Sep 25, 1886
23Draw11–2–4 Billy McCarthyNWS4Aug 25, 1886
22ND11–2–3 Hugh HealeyND4Aug 15, 1886
21Win11–2–3 RileyNWS3Aug 7, 1886
20Win10–2–3 Dan HickeyNWS4Jul 17, 1886
19Win9–2–3 Tom TaylorNWS3Jul 12, 1886
18Loss8–2–3 Pablo FanquePTS4May 22, 1886
17Win8–1–3 Bob BerbsNWS4Apr 3, 1886
16Win7–1–3 Herbert GoddardNWS4Apr 3, 1886
15Win6–1–3 Mick DooleyKO3 (6)Mar 27, 1886
14Draw5–1–3 Jack ThompsonNWS4Mar 13, 1886
13ND5–1–2 Unknown SladeND4May 28, 1885
12Win5–1–2 Mick DooleyNWS4May 28, 1885
11ND4–1–2 William MillerND4May 2, 1885
10ND4–1–2 Larry FoleyND3May 1, 1885
9Draw4–1–2 Bill FarnanPTS6 (6)Sep 23, 1884
8Loss4–1–1 Bill FarnanTKO4 (?)Jul 26, 1884
7Win4–0–1 Mick DooleyNWS4Jun 25, 1884
6ND3–0–1 Tom LeesND4Feb 2, 1884
5Win3–0–1 Tom LeesPTS4Jan 31, 1884
4Win2–0–1 George CaveKO1 (6)Jan 28, 1884
31–0–1 Tom LeesND6Jan 28, 1884
2Win1–0–1DubboPTS?Mar 1, 1882
1Draw0–0–1Jack HayesPTS5Jan 1, 1882

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: Petersen, Bob. Peter Jackson: A Biography of the Australian Heavyweight Champion, 1860-1901. 2011. McFarland & Company, Inc.. Jefferson, North Carolina. 9780786458813. 13 January 2013. 5. Tropical Danish, 1860-1879. https://books.google.com/books?id=8Jl23AofMNMC&pg=PA5.
  2. Web site: 'BLACK PRINCE PETER' . 17 March 2011 . 1 January 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190101025015/http://jamaicanhistorymonth2007.moonfruit.com/#/peter-jackson/4520552740 . dead .
  3. Web site: Jackson vs. Corbett: The Birth of the Sweet Science - Boxing.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140328235419/http://www.boxing.com/jackson_vs._corbett_the_birth_of_the_sweet_science.html. 2014-03-28.
  4. Web site: Peter Jackson vs. Jem Smith - BoxRec.
  5. Web site: Paddy Slavin—Pioneer of Prizefighting - Boxing.com. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160423113327/http://www.boxing.com/paddy_slavinpioneer_of_prizefighting.html. 2016-04-23.
  6. News: 30 January 1893 . Peter Jackson wants to play Othello. The San Francisco Call. 28 July 2017.
  7. Book: Australian Dictionary of Biography. Jackson, Peter (1861–1901) . National Centre of Biography, Australian National University.
  8. Peter Jackson - "The Black Prince" by Tony DeBolfo
  9. Web site: BoxRec: Login.

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