On July 3, 1861, boxer Peter “The Prince” Jackson was born in Saint Croix. After moving to Australia as a child, Jackson got his start boxing in 1882 when he stopped a shipboard mutiny.
His defense skills attracted fight promoters from around the country, and in 1886, Jackson won the Australian heavyweight title by knocking out Tom Leeds in the 30th round.
Because few white fighters agreed to face Jackson, he left Australia for the United States. On May 21, 1891, Jackson famously went 61 rounds with James “Gentleman Jim” Corbett in a bout eventually ruled as a draw.
He traveled to England in 1892 and won the British Empire championship, but was forced to retire for six years after sustaining three broken ribs and a punctured lung in a separate injury.
On July 13, 1901, at age 40, he died of tuberculosis, which he contracted from his 1892 lung injury.
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