Peter Jackson: A Biography of the Australian Heavyweight Champion, 1860–1901

Peter Jackson was a legendary prizefighter in the late 19th century who was by many considered the pre-eminent heavyweight in the world. Perhaps equally significant from a sociological point of view. Jackson was a black man overcoming overriding prejudice of the times.Jackson learned to fight in Australia and became the dominant boxer there. Using scientific methods to w. in the Commonwealth title.He came to the United States to make his fortune. He acquitted himself well and earned a reputation as a well spoken and articulate gentleman as well as a great sportsman. Unfortunately. John L Sullivan was universally recognized as Heavyweight Champion. who refused to test his skills against a black man.Jackson spent the prime years of his career chasing a fight with Sullivan but eventually fought James Corbett in a legendary 61 round draw. Corbett refused to give Jackson a rematch after winning the title.Jackson's legacy was sullied by two factors. First was his ill-advised challenge to James Jeffries following a six year layoff. Second. And not mutually exclusive. was his alcoholism. which contributed to his early demiseThis was a well researched and thorough Biography. but to a fault. The author often becomes far too bogged down in details. such as when Jackson is dying of tuberculous and the author describes how the cough produced a frothy red mucous.However. Jackson remains a seminal figure in boxing' history and the author had tackled a difficult subject

Peter Jackson was a fighter who started his career in Australia then went to the USA to pursue a life in the ring. His boxing life was highlighted by some good wins and some very questionable life choices.After his epic battle with James J Corbett (shortly before Corbett became the Heavyweight Champion), Jackson decided to not fight until he could get a rematch with the newly crowned champion Corbett, this meant that he was out of the ring for 6 years in which time he kept himself busy with sparring in stage shows but also got older and became an alcoholic. The author states that this was due to the lack of suitable opponents for Jackson but surely his advisors would have suggested it is better to be in ring shape and to rack up a series of wins that would make the public demand Corbett defend his title. Corbett never fought Jackson a second time.This book provides the life of Jackson in meticulous detail and while the subject was interesting, the amount of information dulled the book in my opinion and to be honest, I am not sure Jackson deserved the accolades that were bestowed on him as he had few big fights.I think it is important to have an honest account of a fighter's life and this book provides it but perhaps more editing could have been done.

Over the years, a few, mostly fanciful, accounts of Peter Jackson's life have been published,but Bob Petersen is the first (and to date, the only) author of a true biography of the greatboxer and heavyweight champion of Australia."Peter Jackson" (McFarland & Company, Inc., 2011) is a fascinating and wonderfully written work,one that reveals the flavor of the era in which Jackson fought and lived, on a world scale.Bob has conducted the most meticulous research, over many years of world travel, and this masterful story is the result. The book contains rare and interesting photos of Jackson, his contemporaries and related subjects.While heretofore, the great reputation and the life of Pater Jackson, "the Black Prince" of the ring, has resided in relative obscurity, this biography of the man is here to rectify that situation.The account illustrates Peter's life journey from his youth on the island of St. Croix, his sojourns to the United States, Canada, Europe and other countries. It covers his boxing career, but also gives a good sense of the man's personality, interests and mannerisms.While it is rather a cliché to suggest that any book is a "must have" for one's library, it is my strong opinion that "Peter Jackson" is just that. It is truly a work that Mr. Petersen should be most proud of!