Phil Jackson, born May 11, 1964 in Miami Beach, FL, was a professional heavyweight boxer

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...

, best known for challenging Lennox Lewis

Lennox Lewis

Lennox Claudius Lewis, CM, CBE is a retired boxer and the most recent British undisputed world heavyweight champion. He holds dual British and Canadian citizenship...

 for the WBC Heavyweight Title in 1994.

Pro career

Known as "The Enforcer", Jackson began his career in 1988 on a tear, winning his first 25 fights mostly by KO, setting up a bout with hard-punching Canadian top contender Razor Ruddock

Donovan Ruddock

Donovan Ruddock , also known as Razor Ruddock, is a retired Canadian heavyweight boxer. He was a promising Heavyweight of the late 1980s and early 1990s...

 in 1992. Ruddock dominated, and Jackson was knocked down once in the 3rd, and once in the 4th, staying down for the 10 count. He then fought no-name opposition to set up the fight in 1994 with Lewis.

Lewis received a lot of flak for the fight, given Jackson's loss to Ruddock who had lost to Lewis towards the end of his career. Jackson was Top 10 in the Ring Magazine at the time but boxing insiders remained sceptic. The fight was shown on HBO and was unimpressive, with Lewis plodding after Jackson en route to an 8th round TKO. In 1995 his career began to sputter as he slipped to a journeyman. He lost bouts against future contenders Chris Byrd

Chris Byrd

Chris Cornelius Byrd is a retired and former professional boxer. He is the former WBO and IBF heavyweight champion. His nickname is "Rapid Fire".- Early life :...

, Brian Nielsen, and Jeremy Williams

Jeremy Williams (boxer)

Jeremy Williams is a former professional boxer and mixed martial artist.-Amateur career:As an amateur, he was the 1989 and 1990 United States amateur Light Heavyweight champion and the 1990 and 1991 National Golden Gloves Light Heavyweight champion, and is a member of the Golden Gloves hall of...

. In 1998 he beat Alex Stewart, setting up a shot at a fringe belt in 1999 against Monte Barrett

Monte Barrett

Monte Barrett is an American professional heavyweight boxer. He was regarded by many as a tough gatekeeper and was a former WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Champion and current WBO Asia Pacific Heavyweight and WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion...

. Barrett won easily, and Jackson went on to lose to a "who's who" list of heavyweight contenders, including Fres Oquendo

Fres Oquendo

Fres Oquendo was born April 1, 1973 in Puerto Rico, and is a professional heavyweight boxer.He had a successful amateur background.-Amateur career:He had an amateur record of 105-51990 178 lb. Springfield Golden Gloves Champion1992 178 lb...

, Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko

Wladimir Klitschko is a Ukrainian heavyweight boxer. Klitschko is the WBA , IBF, WBO Super, IBO & Ring Magazine Champion. His older brother Vitali Klitschko is the current WBC champion...

, Larry Donald

Larry Donald

Larry Ali Donald is a professional heavyweight boxer, who competed for the United States at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, Spain.-Professional career:...

, Derrick Jefferson

Derrick Jefferson

Derrick Lavon Jefferson is a heavyweight turned boxer.-Amateur:Jefferson became the 1994 National Golden Gloves Super Heavyweight Champion handing Michael Grant his only amateur loss in the semifinals.-Pro:...

, and Dominick Guinn

Dominick Guinn

Dominick Alexander Guinn, , is an American professional boxer with a record of 33-6-1, with 22 KOs. He is self-managed and he is trained by Ronnie Shields...

. The loss to Guinn in 2004, a fight in which Guinn knocked Jackson out in twenty-three seconds, was Jackson's last bout.

He retired with a record with 44-13 with 38 knockouts.

External links