Peter Jackson podcast: Boxing's Uncrowned King

The story of Peter Jackson, not widely known to Australians or boxing fans, is one of the reasons we started The Fighting Life podcast. Born in the West Indies, Jackson landed in Sydney, Australia, around 1880, and learned his craft under the guidance of bareknuckle boxer Larry Foley. He went on to become the greatest heavyweight of his era; Jackson fought 28 of the best boxers of England and US between 1888 and 1892, and lost to none.

Peter Jackson, one of the greatest boxers this country has produced

Known as Peter the Great or The Black Prince to his fans, Jackson was denied a chance to fight for the world heavyweight title on account of the colour of his skin. Still, he was celebrated in his adopted homeland of Australia, and when he died of tuberculosis at only 40 years of age, thousands of people turned out to pay their respects. But the injustices Jackson faced through his life had followed him into death, as so few sporting fans knew his story. We hope this podcast can, in some small way, help to rectify that.