Jackie Paterson
Encyclopedia
Jackie Paterson was a Scottish
boxer who was world flyweight
boxing champion. He was also British champion at flyweight and bantamweight.
. He returned to Scotland in his early teens to work at John Brown & Co, shipbuilders on the Clyde
. He later worked as a butcher. When he was thirteen, he joined the Anderson Club in Glasgow and began to box as an amateur. He turned professional when he was seventeen.
In his nineteenth fight he won the vacant British flyweight title, beating Paddy Ryan by a knockout in the thirteenth round. The fight was in September 1939, in Glasgow.
With the outbreak of World War II
, Paterson joined the RAF, but continued to box regularly throughout the war years.
In March 1940, he added the vacant Commonwealth title to his British one, when he won on points against Richie Kid Tanner in Manchester
.
In February 1941, he defended both titles against Paddy Ryan in Nottingham
, winning on a technical knockout in the eighth.
In August 1941, he had a shot at the Commonwealth bantamweight title, when he fought holder Jim Brady in Glasgow. However, he lost on points over fifteen rounds.
, from Golborne
in Lancashire
. The title fight, held at Hampden Park
in Glasgow, lasted only a minute, as Paterson caught Kane early in the first round putting him down twice, before he was counted out the second time. Paterson was the first southpaw to be world flyweight champion. By successfully defending his British flyweight title twice he had also won a Lonsdale Belt
outright.
In September 1945, Paterson had a re-match with Jim Brady for his Commonwealth bantamweight title, beating him on points in Glasgow, to take the title.
In March 1946, he fought the Frenchman, Theo Medina, for the vacant European bantamweight title. He won the fight, in London on a disqualification in the eighth. Paterson was now World, British and Commonwealth flyweight champion, as well as Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion.
In July 1946, he defended his flyweight titles against Joe Curran in Glasgow, winning on points.
In October 1946, Paterson defended his European bantamweight title against Theo Medina, again in Glasgow. He lost the title when Medina knocked him out in the fourth round.
In February 1947, he challenged for the British bantamweight title, held by Johnny King. They fought in King’s hometown of Manchester, and Paterson knocked King out in the seventh after putting him down four times in the fight.
In October 1947, he defended his British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles against Welshman, Norman Lewis, at Harringay Arena
, London. He scored another knockout, stopping Lewis in the fifth.
, but collapsed at the weigh-in after making over-strenuous efforts to lose weight. The result was that the National Boxing Association of America and the British Boxing Board of Control
stripped him of his World title. Rinty Monaghan
of Northern Ireland fought and beat Marino to take the World title, but Paterson took out an injunction against the BBBC to prevent it from recognising Monaghan as champion.
Eventually, in March 1948, Paterson and Monaghan met in Belfast to decide the matter. Paterson had to lose 4 lbs 12 oz in a week in order to meet the eight stone limit. As a result he was dehydrated and weakened. Monaghan knocked him down in the second round and finally knocked him out in the seventh, to take the World, British and Commonwealth titles from him.
In March 1949, he defended his titles in Liverpool
against Stan Rowan, losing on points over fifteen rounds.
His final twelve fights resulted in nine defeats and only three wins. His last fight was in February 1951, in Dundee
and was an eight-round points defeat by Willie Miles.
After retiring, he went to live in South Africa
for several years, running hotels. He briefly came back to Britain, but returned to South Africa in December 1965 and began working as a lorry driver in Durban
. In 1966, Paterson was stabbed in the throat during a fight after a drinking session, and died at the age of 46.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
boxer who was world flyweight
Flyweight
Flyweight is a class in boxing which includes fighters weighing less than 112 lb but above 108 lb .-Professional boxing:...
boxing champion. He was also British champion at flyweight and bantamweight.
Early life
Paterson’s family emigrated from Scotland, when he was eight years old, to Scranton, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. He returned to Scotland in his early teens to work at John Brown & Co, shipbuilders on the Clyde
River Clyde
The River Clyde is a major river in Scotland. It is the ninth longest river in the United Kingdom, and the third longest in Scotland. Flowing through the major city of Glasgow, it was an important river for shipbuilding and trade in the British Empire....
. He later worked as a butcher. When he was thirteen, he joined the Anderson Club in Glasgow and began to box as an amateur. He turned professional when he was seventeen.
Boxing style
Paterson was a southpaw with a knockout punch in either hand, his most lethal weapon being his left hook. He was comparatively broadly built for a flyweight, and often struggled to make the eight stone flyweight limit. In the latter stages of his career, he fought as a bantamweight.Pro career
Paterson's first fight was in May 1938 in Greenock, and he beat Joe Kiely on points over ten rounds.In his nineteenth fight he won the vacant British flyweight title, beating Paddy Ryan by a knockout in the thirteenth round. The fight was in September 1939, in Glasgow.
With the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Paterson joined the RAF, but continued to box regularly throughout the war years.
In March 1940, he added the vacant Commonwealth title to his British one, when he won on points against Richie Kid Tanner in Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.
In February 1941, he defended both titles against Paddy Ryan in Nottingham
Nottingham
Nottingham is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England. It is located in the ceremonial county of Nottinghamshire and represents one of eight members of the English Core Cities Group...
, winning on a technical knockout in the eighth.
In August 1941, he had a shot at the Commonwealth bantamweight title, when he fought holder Jim Brady in Glasgow. However, he lost on points over fifteen rounds.
World title
In June 1943, Paterson fought against the World flyweight champion, Peter KanePeter Kane
Peter Kane was one of England's greatest flyweight boxers and a world champion in the 1930s. Kane was born in Heywood, Lancashire, on February 28, 1918, but grew up in the town of Golborne, Lancashire, after his family moved there before his first birthday.-Boxing style:He was a two-fisted...
, from Golborne
Golborne
Golborne is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wigan, in Greater Manchester, England.It lies south-southeast of Wigan, northeast of Warrington and to the west of the city of Manchester. It has a population of 23,119....
in Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
. The title fight, held at Hampden Park
Hampden Park
Hampden Park is a football stadium in the Mount Florida area of Glasgow, Scotland. The 52,063 capacity venue serves as the national stadium of football in Scotland...
in Glasgow, lasted only a minute, as Paterson caught Kane early in the first round putting him down twice, before he was counted out the second time. Paterson was the first southpaw to be world flyweight champion. By successfully defending his British flyweight title twice he had also won a Lonsdale Belt
Lonsdale belt
The Lonsdale Belt was a boxing prize introduced by Hugh Lowther, 5th Earl of Lonsdale, to be awarded to British boxing champions. It is still awarded to British champions today.-National Sporting Club:...
outright.
In September 1945, Paterson had a re-match with Jim Brady for his Commonwealth bantamweight title, beating him on points in Glasgow, to take the title.
In March 1946, he fought the Frenchman, Theo Medina, for the vacant European bantamweight title. He won the fight, in London on a disqualification in the eighth. Paterson was now World, British and Commonwealth flyweight champion, as well as Commonwealth and European bantamweight champion.
In July 1946, he defended his flyweight titles against Joe Curran in Glasgow, winning on points.
In October 1946, Paterson defended his European bantamweight title against Theo Medina, again in Glasgow. He lost the title when Medina knocked him out in the fourth round.
In February 1947, he challenged for the British bantamweight title, held by Johnny King. They fought in King’s hometown of Manchester, and Paterson knocked King out in the seventh after putting him down four times in the fight.
In October 1947, he defended his British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles against Welshman, Norman Lewis, at Harringay Arena
Harringay Arena
Harringay Arena was a sporting and events venue on Green Lanes in Harringay, North London, England. Built in 1936, it lasted as a venue until 1958.-Construction:...
, London. He scored another knockout, stopping Lewis in the fifth.
Stripped of World title
Paterson was finding it more and more difficult to make the eight stone flyweight limit. In July 1947, he was due to defend his World flyweight title against Dado MarinoDado Marino
Dado Marino, was a flyweight boxer from Honolulu, Hawaii, who became World flyweight champion in 1950. He also boxed as a bantamweight, and unsuccessfully fought for the World bantamweight title.-Professional career:...
, but collapsed at the weigh-in after making over-strenuous efforts to lose weight. The result was that the National Boxing Association of America and the British Boxing Board of Control
British Boxing Board of Control
The British Boxing Board of Control is the governing body of professional boxing in the United Kingdom. It was formed in 1929 from the old National Sporting Club and is headquartered in Cardiff.- Councils :...
stripped him of his World title. Rinty Monaghan
Rinty Monaghan
John Joseph "Rinty" Monaghan was a former world flyweight boxing champion from Belfast. He became famous in the post-war period, eventually rising to become undisputed world champion and a hero to many people in his home city....
of Northern Ireland fought and beat Marino to take the World title, but Paterson took out an injunction against the BBBC to prevent it from recognising Monaghan as champion.
Eventually, in March 1948, Paterson and Monaghan met in Belfast to decide the matter. Paterson had to lose 4 lbs 12 oz in a week in order to meet the eight stone limit. As a result he was dehydrated and weakened. Monaghan knocked him down in the second round and finally knocked him out in the seventh, to take the World, British and Commonwealth titles from him.
Remaining career
After losing his flyweight titles to Monaghan, Paterson still held the British and Commonwealth bantamweight titles. However his career was going downhill rapidly.In March 1949, he defended his titles in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
against Stan Rowan, losing on points over fifteen rounds.
His final twelve fights resulted in nine defeats and only three wins. His last fight was in February 1951, in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
and was an eight-round points defeat by Willie Miles.
Retirement and death
In his professional career Paterson had earned an estimated £100,000, but had lost most of that on greyhound betting.After retiring, he went to live in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
for several years, running hotels. He briefly came back to Britain, but returned to South Africa in December 1965 and began working as a lorry driver in Durban
Durban
Durban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
. In 1966, Paterson was stabbed in the throat during a fight after a drinking session, and died at the age of 46.
See also
External links
- Jackie Paterson: World Champion 1943 BBC - A Sporting Nation