Peter Jackson (3 July 1861 – 13 July 1901) 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. 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. 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.
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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
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.Peter Jackson - "The Black Prince" by Tony DeBolfo Jackson's tomb is emblazoned with the words "This was a man".
Professional boxing record All information in this section is derived from BoxRec, 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. ResultRecordOpponentTypeRoundDateLocationNotes105Loss42–5–3 Jim JeffordsTKO4 (20)Aug 23, 1899104Loss42–4–3 James J. JeffriesTKO3 (20)Mar 22, 1898103Win42–3–3 Denny KelliherNWS3Nov 28, 1892102Win42–3–3 Frank SlavinKO10 (20)May 30, 1892101Win41–3–3 Joe ButlerPTS3Feb 17, 1892100Win40–3–3 James DaltonKO3 (?)Jan 12, 189299Win39–3–3 Jack KingTKO2 (?)Jan 12, 189298NC38–3–3 James J. CorbettNC61 (?)May 21, 189197Draw38–3–3 Mick DooleyNWS4Nov 19, 189096Draw38–3–3 Joe GoddardPTS8OCt 20, 189095ND38–3–2 William PowerND3Sep 26, 189094ND38–3–2 WH WatsonND3Sep 26, 189093ND38–3–2 William PowerND3Sep 23, 189092ND38–3–2 WH WatsonND3Sep 23, 189091Draw38–3–2 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 18, 189090Win38–3–2 Mick O'BrienNWS4Sep 13, 189089Draw38–3–2 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 9, 189088Draw38–3–2 Martin CostelloNWS4Sep 8, 189087ND38–3–2 Jack BurkeND6Sep 6, 189086Draw38–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS3Sep 2, 189085Draw38–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS4Aug 30, 189084Win38–3–2 Tom JohnsonPTS4Jul 22, 189083Win37–3–2 Denver Ed SmithPTS5May 19, 189082Win36–3–2 Dick KeatingKO1 (4)Apr 1, 189081ND35–3–2 Gus LambertND4Mar 5, 18908035–3–2 Jack FallonNC2 (?)Mar 4, 189079Win35–3–2 The GypsyKO2 (4)Feb 21, 189078Win34–3–2 James J. WalkerKO1 (4)Feb 20, 189077Win33–3–2 Peter MaherRTD3 (4)Dec 24, 188976Win32–3–2 Scotchy GunnPTS4Dec 2, 188975Win31–3–2 W WoodhamsTKO3 (4)Dec 2, 188974Win30–3–2 Sailor WhiteTKO3 (4)Nov 29, 188973Win29–3–2 Woolf BendoffTKO2 (4)Nov 29, 188972Win28–3–2 SkinnerDQ2 (4)Nov 7, 188971Win27–3–2 Charles BurginTKO2 (4)Nov 23, 188970Win26–3–2 Horace HorriganTKO2 (4)Nov 21, 188969Win25–3–2 Jem SmithDQ2 (10)Nov 11, 188968Win24–3–2 Alf MitchellPTS4Oct 15, 188967Win23–3–2 Alf BallKO2 (4)Oct 15, 188966Win22–3–2 Jem YoungPTS4Oct 14, 188965Win21–3–2 Jack PartridgeKO3 (4)Oct 7, 188964Win20–3–2 Jack FallonPTS4Aug 19, 188963Win19–3–2 James Ginger McCormickKO2 (?)Aug 9, 188962Win18–3–2 Billy BakerRTD3 (4)Aug 8, 188961Win17–3–2 Paddy BrennanTKO1 (4)Aug 5, 188960Win16–3–2 Tom LynchDQ2 (4)Jul 30, 188959Win15–3–2 Billy BakerPTS4Jul 29, 188958ND14–3–2 Tom LeesND4Jul 27, 188957Win14–3–2 George PetersTKO3 (4)Jul 25, 188956Win13–3–2 Charles BrownTKO4 (?)Jul 11, 188955ND12–3–2 Tom LeesTKO2 (?)Jun 15, 188954Win12–3–2 Shorty KincaidTKO2 (?)May 11, 188953Win11–3–2 Patsy CardiffTKO10 (?)Apr 26, 188952Win10–3–2 Joe McAuliffeKO24 (?)Dec 28, 188851Win9–3–2 George GodfreyTKO19 (?)Aug 24, 188850Win8–3–2 M.J. SullivanKO2 (?)Jun 20, 188849Draw7–3–2 Larry FoleyNWS4Apr 17, 188848Draw7–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS4Mar 17, 188847Win7–3–2 Tom TaylorNWS4Feb 11, 188846Draw7–3–2 Mick DooleyNWS4Feb 4, 188845ND7–3–2 Mick DooleyND4Jan 26, 188844Loss7–3–2 Martin CostelloPTS4Jan 14, 188843ND7–2–2 Mick DooleyND2 (?)Dec 24, 188742ND7–2–2 Stonewall JackND2 (?)Nov 26, 188741ND7–2–2 Steve O'DonnellND3Oct 22, 188740ND7–2–2 Steve O'DonnellND3Oct 1, 188739Win7–2–2 Jim NolanKO1 (4)Sep 24, 188738Win6–2–2 Harry StanleyNWS4Aug 27, 188737ND6–2–2 Jim NolanND4Aug 25, 188736ND6–2–2 Tom TaylorND4Aug 6, 188735Win6–2–2 Steve O'DonnellNWS4Jul 16, 188734ND6–2–2 Dan HickeyND4Jul 9, 188733Win6–2–2 Jim NolanNWS4Jun 25, 188732Draw6–2–2 George SealeNWS4Jun 11, 188731Win6–2–2 Jim NolanNWS4Jun 4, 188730Win6–2–2 Mick O'BrienKO1 (6)Apr 23, 188729Win5–2–2 Pat KielyNWS4Apr 6, 188728ND5–2–2 Pat KielyND4Feb 15, 188727ND5–2–2 Pat KielyND4Nov 20, 188626ND5–2–2 Steve O'DonnellND4Oct 9, 188625ND5–2–2 Jack MalloyND4Oct 2, 188624Win5–2–2 Tom LeesTKO30 (?)Sep 25, 188623Draw4–2–2 Billy McCarthyNWS4Aug 25, 188622ND4–2–2 Hugh HealeyND4Aug 15, 188621Win4–2–2 RileyNWS3Aug 7, 188620Win4–2–2 Dan HickeyNWS4Jul 17, 188619Win4–2–2 Tom TaylorNWS3Jul 12, 188618Loss4–2–2 Pablo FanquePTS4May 22, 188617Win4–1–2 Bob BerbsNWS4Apr 3, 188616Win4–1–2 Herbert GoddardNWS4Apr 3, 188615Win4–1–2 Mick DooleyKO3 (6)Mar 27, 188614Draw3–1–2 Jack ThompsonNWS4Mar 13, 188613ND3–1–2 Unknown SladeND4May 28, 188512Win3–1–2 Mick DooleyNWS4May 28, 188511ND3–1–2 William MillerND4May 2, 188510ND3–1–2 Larry FoleyND3May 1, 18859Draw3–1–2 Bill FarnanPTS6 (6)Sep 23, 18848Loss3–1–1 Bill FarnanTKO4 (?)Jul 26, 18847Win3–0–1 Mick DooleyNWS4Jun 25, 18846ND3–0–1 Tom LeesND4Feb 2, 18845Win3–0–1 Tom LeesPTS4Jan 31, 18844Win2–0–1 George CaveKO1 (6)Jan 28, 188431–0–1 Tom LeesND6Jan 28, 18842Win1–0–1DubboPTS?Mar 1, 18821Draw0–0–1Jack HayesPTS5Jan 1, 1882
Unofficial record
Record with the inclusion of newspaper decisions in the win/loss/draw column.