Julian Jackson
Encyclopedia
Julian Jackson is a retired professional boxer
and former three-time world champion in the light middleweight and middleweight divisions. Known as "The Hawk", Jackson is considered to be one of the hardest pound-for-pound punchers in history, and is ranked #25 on Ring Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Punchers Of All-Time.
The Virgin Islands boxing legacy also includes Peter Jackson
(distant relation).
, where he lived for a short period of time, and gained a shot at WBA
light middleweight
champion Mike McCallum
in August 1986. Jackson hurt the champion on a couple occasions in the first round, but McCallum came storming back with a barrage that forced the referee to stop matters in the second round.
After McCallum moved up to middleweight, Jackson got his second shot at the now-vacant WBA title in November 1987 against Korean In-Chul Baek, winning in three rounds. Baek would go on to win the WBA super middleweight
title a year later. Jackson made three defenses of his crown, against former IBF
title holder Buster Drayton
(TKO 3), Francisco DeJesus (KO 8), and future three-time champion Terry Norris
(TKO 2). All these defenses were won with a single knockout punch.
Jackson then vacated his crown, moved up to 160 lb (73 kg), and was pitted against Herol 'Bomber' Graham for the vacant WBC
middleweight title. Due to Jackon's retina damage which had required surgery, the British Boxing Board of Control
didn't allow him to box in the UK, so the bout was held at Torrequebrada Hotel & Casino, Benalmadena, Andalucía, Spain on 24th November, 1990.
Graham was putting on his typical savvy performance against Jackson: countering, slipping, and dancing out of the way. After being consistently beaten to the punch for three and a half rounds, Jackson unleashed one of the immortal right hands of boxing. Unconscious before he hit even fell, Graham was out for five alarming minutes before he was revived.
Defenses against Dennis Milton (KO 1), Ismael Negron (KO 1), and Ron Collins (TKO 5) ended quickly, but Thomas Tate
would make Jackson work longer and harder in their August 1992 encounter - Julian had to go to the scorecards for the first time in a title bout in winning a 12-round unanimous decision, scoring a knockdown along the way. At this point Jackson was in the middle of the pound-for-pound rankings.
This would lead to his showdown in May 1993 with another big hitter, Gerald McClellan
. This time the challenger prevailed, flooring Jackson twice in the fifth round. The second knockdown prompted the referee to stop the fight, after Jackson made it to his feet yet remained unsteady. Jackson had another shot at the title in May 1994 in a rematch with McClellan. Jackson was hurt and put under heavy pressure by McClellan very early into the first round, and was soon dropped by a left hook to the body. The referee stopped the bout as Jackson rose to his feet, with Jackson insisting he could have continued.
After McClellan vacated the title to move up to super middleweight, Jackson would have a second but brief reign as WBC middleweight champion, beating the previously undefeated European champion Agostino Cardamone
in March 1995. Jackon had a shaky first round, during which he was alarmingly hurt and put under pressure by Cardamone, who wasn't considered a hard puncher. In Round 2 however, Jackson again showed his punching power by suddenly dropping Cardamone heavily with a short right hand. Cardamone managed to make it to his feet but was still badly shaken, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Jackson lost the title in his first defense against Quincy Taylor in August of that year by a sixth-round stoppage in a fight where Jackson looked a shadow of his former self. Jackson would have four more low-key victories, before ending his career with losses to Verno Phillips and Anthony Jones, both in nine rounds, in 1998.
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
and former three-time world champion in the light middleweight and middleweight divisions. Known as "The Hawk", Jackson is considered to be one of the hardest pound-for-pound punchers in history, and is ranked #25 on Ring Magazine's list of 100 Greatest Punchers Of All-Time.
The Virgin Islands boxing legacy also includes Peter Jackson
Peter Jackson (boxer)
Peter "Black Prince" Jackson was a heavyweight boxer from Australia who had a significant international career.-Biography:...
(distant relation).
Pro career
Jackson had many of his early fights in Puerto RicoPuerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
, where he lived for a short period of time, and gained a shot at WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
light middleweight
Light middleweight
Light Middleweight , is a weight division in professional boxing, above 147 pounds and up to 154 pounds ....
champion Mike McCallum
Mike McCallum
Mike McCallum is a retired boxer. Nicknamed "The Body Snatcher" for his fierce body punching. McCallum won world titles in three weight classes.-Amateur career:Claimed an amateur record of 240-10...
in August 1986. Jackson hurt the champion on a couple occasions in the first round, but McCallum came storming back with a barrage that forced the referee to stop matters in the second round.
After McCallum moved up to middleweight, Jackson got his second shot at the now-vacant WBA title in November 1987 against Korean In-Chul Baek, winning in three rounds. Baek would go on to win the WBA super middleweight
Super middleweight
Super Middleweight is a boxing and Muay Thai weight division that has a weight limit of 168 pounds .- 1960s–1983 :There was interest in a division between Middleweight and Light Heavyweight in the late 1960s, the mid-1970s, and the early 1980s...
title a year later. Jackson made three defenses of his crown, against former IBF
International Boxing Federation
The International Boxing Federation or IBF is one of four major organizations recognized by IBHOF which sanction world championship boxing bouts, alongside the WBA, WBC and WBO.- History :...
title holder Buster Drayton
Buster Drayton
Buster Drayton , was a professional boxer in the Light Middleweight division.Drayton turned pro in 1978 and won the Vacant IBF Light Middleweight Title with a decision win over Carlos Santos in 1986. He defended the belt twice before losing it to Matthew Hilton the following year...
(TKO 3), Francisco DeJesus (KO 8), and future three-time champion Terry Norris
Terry Norris
Terry Wayne Norris is a retired American boxer and a three-time world champion in the light middleweight division. Originally from Lubbock, Texas, he fought out of San Diego.-Early boxing career:...
(TKO 2). All these defenses were won with a single knockout punch.
Jackson then vacated his crown, moved up to 160 lb (73 kg), and was pitted against Herol 'Bomber' Graham for the vacant WBC
World Boxing Council
The World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
middleweight title. Due to Jackon's retina damage which had required surgery, 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 :...
didn't allow him to box in the UK, so the bout was held at Torrequebrada Hotel & Casino, Benalmadena, Andalucía, Spain on 24th November, 1990.
Graham was putting on his typical savvy performance against Jackson: countering, slipping, and dancing out of the way. After being consistently beaten to the punch for three and a half rounds, Jackson unleashed one of the immortal right hands of boxing. Unconscious before he hit even fell, Graham was out for five alarming minutes before he was revived.
Defenses against Dennis Milton (KO 1), Ismael Negron (KO 1), and Ron Collins (TKO 5) ended quickly, but Thomas Tate
Thomas Tate
Thomas Tate is retired American middleweight and super-middleweight professional boxer. His record was 41-7 .He twice fought for world titles at middleweight, losing to Julian Jackson and Roy Jones Jr respectively...
would make Jackson work longer and harder in their August 1992 encounter - Julian had to go to the scorecards for the first time in a title bout in winning a 12-round unanimous decision, scoring a knockdown along the way. At this point Jackson was in the middle of the pound-for-pound rankings.
This would lead to his showdown in May 1993 with another big hitter, Gerald McClellan
Gerald McClellan
Gerald McClellan is a former boxer from the United States of America, who was the WBO and WBC middleweight champion. McClellan's record as a professional boxer was 31 wins and 3 losses with 29 wins by knockout...
. This time the challenger prevailed, flooring Jackson twice in the fifth round. The second knockdown prompted the referee to stop the fight, after Jackson made it to his feet yet remained unsteady. Jackson had another shot at the title in May 1994 in a rematch with McClellan. Jackson was hurt and put under heavy pressure by McClellan very early into the first round, and was soon dropped by a left hook to the body. The referee stopped the bout as Jackson rose to his feet, with Jackson insisting he could have continued.
After McClellan vacated the title to move up to super middleweight, Jackson would have a second but brief reign as WBC middleweight champion, beating the previously undefeated European champion Agostino Cardamone
Agostino Cardamone
Agostino Cardamone is a former Italian pro boxer best known to win the European title at middleweight.-Career:Southpaw Cardamone started his career in 1989 and won the Italian title against Silvio Branco in 1992...
in March 1995. Jackon had a shaky first round, during which he was alarmingly hurt and put under pressure by Cardamone, who wasn't considered a hard puncher. In Round 2 however, Jackson again showed his punching power by suddenly dropping Cardamone heavily with a short right hand. Cardamone managed to make it to his feet but was still badly shaken, forcing the referee to stop the fight.
Jackson lost the title in his first defense against Quincy Taylor in August of that year by a sixth-round stoppage in a fight where Jackson looked a shadow of his former self. Jackson would have four more low-key victories, before ending his career with losses to Verno Phillips and Anthony Jones, both in nine rounds, in 1998.