BoxRec

Some may not think of him as an Australian boxer, but if we examine closely
Jackson is an Australian boxer.

He certainly was Australian. He was one of a troupe of West Indian Boxers who settled in Australia around the turn of the century including Peter Felix and John Black Perry.

Jackson is the closest we've had to a heavyweight champion but that is all about to be eclipsed with King Kali dethroning the Russian.

I have an old lithograph titled "Australia's Greatest Boxers #1", which was a supplement in "The Referee" newspaper dated February 17, 1909 and boxer #1 was Peter Jackson, who had an impressive build.

The very brief biography on the lithograph states:

"Peter Jackson (ex-heavyweight champion of the world), born in Christiansted (St. Croix, West Indies), July 3, 1861. Height 6ft and half an inch). Began his career in Sydney (1882). Won championship of Australia in match with Tom Lees at Sydney, September 25, 1886. Was virtually champion of the world when J L Sullivan, Jim Corbett and Bob Fitzsimmons refused to meet him. Died in Roma, Qld of consumption, July 13 1901."

He went to San Francisco in April 1888 and later fought a 61 round draw (declared no contest) with Jim Corbett on 21 May 1891. His last bout was a 3 round loss to Jim Jeffries on 22 March, 1898. Peter also made his stage debut in "Uncle Toms Cabin" on 20th February 1893.