BoxRec

Peter Jackson isn't a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. What is the story? Isn't Jackson highly regarded in Australia?

- Chuck Johnston

There are less than 20 boxing specific members in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

Chuck sticking it to the man!

This is not the resting place of someone the Australian public didnt regard or respect. In fact money was raised publicly for this monument, given the era he lived in and the fact he was from African/Caribbean descent, i think speaks volumes on how he was seen generally.



The fact is boxing has to share the stage collectively with a great deal of other sports and athletes that makes up our history.

Tinnie, I knew that there is a very nice monument on Peter Jackson's grave. In regards to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I was wondering if being born in Australia was a requirement to be chosen for induction, which would have meant that Jackson would not be eligible. I can tell you that if an American black boxer of Jackson's stature was excluded from an American sports hall of fame while some white boxers are inductees, it wouldn't have been tolerated in the United States.

- Chuck Johnston

Some of the boxing specific members of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame were born elsewhere.

For example Johnny Famechon was born in France and Kostya Tszu in Russia.

Chuck1052 wrote:Peter Jackson isn't a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. What is the story? Isn't Jackson highly regarded in Australia?

- Chuck Johnston

He's made some great films though.

Chuck1052 wrote:Tinnie, I knew that there is a very nice monument on Peter Jackson's grave. In regards to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I was wondering if being born in Australia was a requirement to be chosen for induction, which would have meant that Jackson would not be eligible. I can tell you that if an American black boxer of Jackson's stature was excluded from an American sports hall of fame while some white boxers are inductees, it wouldn't have been tolerated in the United States.

- Chuck Johnston

No mate i dont believe race would have anything to do with it.

The Sport Australia HOF would have an obligation to represent all sports and athletes. Cricket, Horse Racing, Rugby, AFL, Tennis, Motorsport are just a few of the sports that have an extremely in depth history over here, not to mention the Olympians and then multitude of all the other less than mainstream sports that would have at some time produced exceptional talent. All would have athletes in line for induction.

Possibly in the USA their boxers of the past have a larger base of representation to push for futher recognition.

Why is Peter Jackson not in the SAHOF?... i cant say for sure...

...maybe its because he was a pre-20th century boxer.... maybe his achievements arent fully understood by the panel of selection.... maybe he is in line for induction soon....

i just dont believe there are any sinister motives behind his exclusion at this point of time.

Tinnie wrote:

Chuck1052 wrote:Tinnie, I knew that there is a very nice monument on Peter Jackson's grave. In regards to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I was wondering if being born in Australia was a requirement to be chosen for induction, which would have meant that Jackson would not be eligible. I can tell you that if an American black boxer of Jackson's stature was excluded from an American sports hall of fame while some white boxers are inductees, it wouldn't have been tolerated in the United States.

- Chuck Johnston

No mate i dont believe race would have anything to do with it.

Johnny Famechon was born in France and has been inducted. Kostya Tszu was born in Russia and has been inducted.

Redback Rasta wrote:

Tinnie wrote:

Chuck1052 wrote:Tinnie, I knew that there is a very nice monument on Peter Jackson's grave. In regards to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I was wondering if being born in Australia was a requirement to be chosen for induction, which would have meant that Jackson would not be eligible. I can tell you that if an American black boxer of Jackson's stature was excluded from an American sports hall of fame while some white boxers are inductees, it wouldn't have been tolerated in the United States.

- Chuck Johnston

No mate i dont believe race would have anything to do with it.

Johnny Famechon was born in France and has been inducted. Kostya Tszu was born in Russia and has been inducted.

Its unfortunate but sometimes people just get forgotten. Having a quick poke around that site there was a name that popped out at me. Heather McKay. She was a world squash champion, she only ever lost twice and the last 20 years of her career she was undefeated. How she's not a household name is beyond me... if a tennis player had such an accomplishment they'd be held in Bradman-esque stature.

Tinnie wrote:

Redback Rasta wrote:

Tinnie wrote:
No mate i dont believe race would have anything to do with it.

Johnny Famechon was born in France and has been inducted. Kostya Tszu was born in Russia and has been inducted.

Its unfortunate but sometimes people just get forgotten. Having a quick poke around that site there was a name that popped out at me. Heather McKay. She was a world squash champion, she only ever lost twice and the last 20 years of her career she was undefeated. How she's not a household name is beyond me... if a tennis player had such an accomplishment they'd be held in Bradman-esque stature.

I am old and ugly enough to remember when Heather McKay did get a lot of mention. As did Jeff Hunt, who was also a dominant force in world squash. But over time many accomplishments simply get forgotten - particularly in sports that don't receive a lot of public recognition.

Another prime example of what we are talking about here is Walter Lindrum. Lindrum was born in Kalgoorlie and was the Bradman of billiards. He was that bloody good they had to change the rules to slow him down. Yet most of today's younger generation now would not know who Lindrum was.

In terms of impact by Australian-based boxers on the international scene, I think that the late 19th Century group was no. 1 by a considerable margin. Despite being such a sparsely populated country before 1900, Australia had large number of top fighters who did very well as a group in the ring and had a tremendous influence on the sport of boxing when the sport was starting to be conducted under the Marquis of Queensbury Rules for the most part.

- Chuck Johnston

Chuck1052 wrote:In terms of impact by Australian-based boxers on the international scene, I think that the late 19th Century group was no. 1 by a considerable margin. Despite being such a sparsely populated country before 1900, Australia had large number of top fighters who did very well as a group in the ring and had a tremendous influence on the sport of boxing when the sport was starting to be conducted under the Marquis of Queensbury Rules for the most part.

- Chuck Johnston

Possibly the by product of dumping a bunch of convicts onto an island colony?

Seriously though i completely agree with you and with Jackson one of the most senior pupils at Foleys Iron Pot, i've no doubt he would have had played a huge role in the slew of boxers that proceeded him. You seem to hold Jackson in quite him regard yourself mate

Redback Rasta wrote:

Tinnie wrote:

Chuck1052 wrote:Tinnie, I knew that there is a very nice monument on Peter Jackson's grave. In regards to the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, I was wondering if being born in Australia was a requirement to be chosen for induction, which would have meant that Jackson would not be eligible. I can tell you that if an American black boxer of Jackson's stature was excluded from an American sports hall of fame while some white boxers are inductees, it wouldn't have been tolerated in the United States.

- Chuck Johnston

No mate i dont believe race would have anything to do with it.

Johnny Famechon was born in France and has been inducted. Kostya Tszu was born in Russia and has been inducted.

Mattioli was born in Italy and hasnt been inducted

Tinnie wrote:

Chuck1052 wrote:In terms of impact by Australian-based boxers on the international scene, I think that the late 19th Century group was no. 1 by a considerable margin. Despite being such a sparsely populated country before 1900, Australia had large number of top fighters who did very well as a group in the ring and had a tremendous influence on the sport of boxing when the sport was starting to be conducted under the Marquis of Queensbury Rules for the most part.

- Chuck Johnston

Possibly the by product of dumping a bunch of convicts onto an island colony?

Seriously though i completely agree with you and with Jackson one of the most senior pupils at Foleys Iron Pot, i've no doubt he would have had played a huge role in the slew of boxers that proceeded him. You seem to hold Jackson in quite him regard yourself mate

Foley! Larry Foley!

I'd been racking my brain trying to think of that name since mention of Jackson in this thread.

Tinnie wrote:

Redback Rasta wrote:

Tinnie wrote:

No mate i dont believe race would have anything to do with it.

Johnny Famechon was born in France and has been inducted. Kostya Tszu was born in Russia and has been inducted.

Mattioli was born in Italy and hasnt been inducted

I doubt Mattioli's exclusion is on racial grounds.


Since we are continuing to kick it around. Here are the boxers and boxing identities who have been inducted >>>

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Albert Griffiths ('Young Griffo')

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Dave Sands

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Harold Hardwick

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Jack Carroll

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Jeff Fenech

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Jimmy Carruthers

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Johnny Famechon

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Kostya Tszyu

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Les Darcy

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Lionel Rose MBE

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Reginald 'Snowy' Baker

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Stan Longinidis (kick boxing)

Hall of Fame - Athlete Members - Vic Patrick OAM

Hall of Fame - General Members - Ambrose Palmer

Hall of Fame - General Members - Arthur Tunstall OBE

Hall of Fame - General Members - John Lewis OAM

Hall of Fame - General Members - Laurence 'Larry' Foley

Hall of Fame - General Members - Merv Williams

Hall of Fame - Legends - Vic Patrick OAM

Scholarships - Scholarship Holders - Caitlin Parker (Boxing)

In regards to Harold Hardwick and Snowy Baker, they may have been the best all-around Australian athletes at the time that they were active. In addition, Baker was the most important Australian boxing promoter for a time after Huge Deal McIntosh left the scene. Hardwick's best sport appears to have been swimming. It would be hard to believe that Hardwick and Baker would be inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame solely based on what they did as boxers. By the way, is McIntosh a member of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame? A good case can be made that McIntosh's boxing promotion, the world heavyweight bout between Tommy Burns, the champion, and Jack Johnson, the challenger, had a greater impact in the sports world than any other Australian sports event in history.

- Chuck Johnston

Correct

Some inductees of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame have a number of different sports listed amongst their achievements, and boxing is the lesser sport for some. A good example being Hardwick.

As an American, I had to make an arrangement to buy a biography of Snowy Baker from an Australian book business, which was no easy task. Snowy had one incredible life in both the sports and film worlds while residing in both Australia and the United States, which the biography covers very well for the most part.

There wasn't any mention in the biography about Baker being the boxing promoter at the fabled Los Angeles boxing arena, the Olympic Auditorium, for a short time during the early 1940s. Baker proved not to be a success while doing the job, but he did hire the capable and experienced Babe McCoy as the matchmaker.

A little later after Baker's failure, a young lady named Aileen Labell, later to become better known as Aileen Eaton, and her future husband, Cal Eaton, became involved the promotion of boxing shows at the Olympic with the matchmaker continuing to be McCoy. With the mentioned trio at the helm, there would be a great deal of relative stability and success at the Olympic despite the fact that McCoy would later be caught up in a boxing scandal and banned for life by the California State Athletic Commission during the middle 1950s. Cal would later die during 1960s, leaving Aileen to being the sole promoter of boxing shows at the Olympic until about 1980, an astounding achievement in the highly volatile world of American professional boxing. One reason for Aileen's success was that she was very good at watching the bottom line, which has not been a very common trait in the business.

- Chuck Johnston

Seems like boxing fans and historians in Australia should get together and petition for Jackson's inclusion in the national Hall of Fame. Does Australia have a boxing hall of fame? Is The Dark Prince included there?

Cap wrote:Seems like boxing fans and historians in Australia should get together and petition for Jackson's inclusion in the national Hall of Fame. Does Australia have a boxing hall of fame? Is The Dark Prince included there?

In 2004, Peter Jackson was inducted into the Australian National Boxing Hall of Fame during the second annual ceremony of the organization.

- Chuck Johnston

Well, that's the proper place for him instead of next to racquet-ballers, gymnasts and syncro-swimmers.