BoxRec

This is a thread for discussion about Peter Jackson, who is probably the forgotten world champion. Considered by virtually everyone as the World Champion, when John L Sullivan first retired, it is a little unfair that he lost his claim because Sullivan eventually came out of retirement to face Corbett, who Jackson had drawn with.

Here is the first article which is a pretty good discussion of some of his fights, including the Mick Dooley fight and KO where he was said to be drunk before it happened, apparently.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

Was Sullivan actually officially retired when he met Corbett, or just inactive?

Peter Jackson was no doubt a great fighter, and your posting appreciation of him is appropriate. Nevertheless, John L. Sullivan's position as the first Marquis of Queensbury heavyweight champion has been accepted forever. It seems unwise to rewrite history 120 years after the fact. Can you substantiate the "everyone considered him champion" part? To Irene's post, is there any way to verify "official" retirement for Sullivan. Also note that Corbet had only 9 fights prior to the 61 round draw/no contest with Jackson. Please don't misunderstand; I agree Jackson is undeservedly overlooked as an early era great.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

It isnt really modern revisionism. This article was printed at the time of Professor Peter Jackson's death.

Virtually everybody probably includes most of Australia, England and everywhere else except for probably America, although from memory there were quite a few in America who also referred to peter as a world champion.

Here is a good little article about the Peter Jackson, the coloured champion of the World, when he faced the american champion Jim Corbett. Note that there is no mention of Sullivan's claim, probably because he was retired around this time. (actually i havent double checked the date of this article, so i may look a little silly if it occurred after corbett beat Sullivan).

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

this one has our world champion challenging the English Champion.
http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=


and note here that it was not until John L Sullivan came out of "retirement" to face corbett that Jackson appeared to be banquished to the title of Coloured champion of Australia.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

Goodnight, Irene wrote:Was Sullivan actually officially retired when he met Corbett, or just inactive?

There are quite a lot of these articles around which refer to the retired John L Sullivan. I think it was pretty clear that he had retired, and if you look at his record, that is why he didnt fight during this period.


http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

This one is much earlier, it was his retirement before the Kilrain fight. IMO, it is obvious that Sullivan had retired from proper pugilism at this time, and it really is astonishing that he was able to hold on to the title for so long and continue to produce great performances, like Kilrain. I guessing that the circus business didnt go as well as is hoped for John L.

http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article ... rchLimits=

Paddy Slavin posts a biography series in the old papers, which deals with this retirement of John L. He says it was John L's retirement which prevented (from memory here) a Slavin Sullivan fight, and he ended up fighting Jackson instead because there was no guarantee that John L would ever come out of retirement. In fact John L had promised Slavin a fight if he did come out of retirement. When he finally made the decision to return to the game, he apparantly gave the opportunity to fight him to the first of Jackson, Slavin or corbett that came up with the money. obviously corbett was the first.

Some great info here. Would have been the worlds first ever superfight if he got his day with John L. which he more than deserved. Another tragic Aussie boxing story this one, he would have beaten Sullivan around this time, though I think Sullivan beats him earlier. Jackson was Jack Johnson's hero, boxing's original Floyd Mayweather type fighter.

barrack osama wrote:Some great info here. Would have been the worlds first ever superfight if he got his day with John L. which he more than deserved. Another tragic Aussie boxing story this one, he would have beaten Sullivan around this time, though I think Sullivan beats him earlier. Jackson was Jack Johnson's hero, boxing's original Floyd Mayweather type fighter.

Not just Jack Johnson's hero, He was the hero of most of the white fighters around as well. The opinion of peers about the Jackson was astonishingly high. In fact even higher than his great record appears to indicate.

"This Was A Man"

Johnson and other boxers have made the trip up to Toowong Cemetary to visit Jackson's grave while visiting Australia.

Have you had a chance to visit there yet Boilermaker?

Tinnie wrote:

"This Was A Man"

Johnson and other boxers have made the trip up to Toowong Cemetary to visit Jackson's grave while visiting Australia.

Have you had a chance to visit there yet Boilermaker?

Where exactly is that? In Queensland somewhere isn't it?

http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=ll


west brissy by the look of it, thought you might have been there being a qlder

one day i'd like to get down to waverly cemetary and see Foley's monument

Tinnie wrote:http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=ll


west brissy by the look of it, thought you might have been there being a qlder

one day i'd like to get down to waverly cemetary and see Foley's monument

Foley's is at Waverley?

Tinnie wrote:http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&tab=ll


west brissy by the look of it, thought you might have been there being a qlder

one day i'd like to get down to waverly cemetary and see Foley's monument

Yes, Toowong is at West Brisbane, just down the bottom of mount cootha oppossite the botanical gardens. It is an impressive monument to undoubtedly one of if not the best fighter Australia has ever produced.