Professional Boxer. Born in the Virgin Islands in July of 1861, as a young man he moved to Australia. His boxing career began in 1882 in Melbourne, Australia. Shortly after he used his fist to put down a shipboard mutiny. The incident was reported in the press and soon boxing promoters were after him. In 1886, Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title by knocking out Tom Leeds in the 30th round. Jackson soon found it difficult to get opponents in Australia so he moved to the United States in 1888 and fought his way across the country extending to England. On May 21, 1891 at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco after being rejected for a fight because of his skin color, Jackson fought James "Gentlemen Jim" Corbett. They fought for 61 rounds and the bouht was finally ruled a draw. Back in England in 1892, Jackson won the British Empire Championship with a second-round knockout of Frank Slavin. In that bout, however, Jackson suffered two broken ribs that punctured a lung. He retired for six years, but staged an ill-fated comeback in 1898. James J. Jefferies and Jim Jefferies knocked him out. Three years later Jackson died of tuberculosis contracted from his 1892 lung injury. He was buried in Toowong Cemetery in the that same city, where friends erected a large monument to this brave champion. Peter Jackson's lifetime Ring Record was 23-3-5. 17 KO's.
Professional Boxer. Born in the Virgin Islands in July of 1861, as a young man he moved to Australia. His boxing career began in 1882 in Melbourne, Australia. Shortly after he used his fist to put down a shipboard mutiny. The incident was reported in the press and soon boxing promoters were after him. In 1886, Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title by knocking out Tom Leeds in the 30th round. Jackson soon found it difficult to get opponents in Australia so he moved to the United States in 1888 and fought his way across the country extending to England. On May 21, 1891 at the California Athletic Club in San Francisco after being rejected for a fight because of his skin color, Jackson fought James "Gentlemen Jim" Corbett. They fought for 61 rounds and the bouht was finally ruled a draw. Back in England in 1892, Jackson won the British Empire Championship with a second-round knockout of Frank Slavin. In that bout, however, Jackson suffered two broken ribs that punctured a lung. He retired for six years, but staged an ill-fated comeback in 1898. James J. Jefferies and Jim Jefferies knocked him out. Three years later Jackson died of tuberculosis contracted from his 1892 lung injury. He was buried in Toowong Cemetery in the that same city, where friends erected a large monument to this brave champion. Peter Jackson's lifetime Ring Record was 23-3-5. 17 KO's.
Bio by: Curtis Jackson
Inscription
Front: Medallion of Peter Jackson
"This was a man." -Shakespeare
Side: To the memory of Peter Jackson, who died at Roma Q., 13th July, 1901. Aged 40 years.
Side: Sleep, Peter, sleep, brave champion,
All hushed we gather round the ring;
While snow-white flowers moist eyed we fling
Within a grave . . . the fight is done.
Sleep, Peter, sleep, the hero's rest
Be thine in Mother Earth's broad breast.
Erected by his Australian friends and admirers.
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