Jackson, Willie (aka Young Willie Jackson)

Oscar Tobler

A tough, skilled fighter who was never a champion, Jackson was a rough hombre for any opponent. During his career, he fought many great boxers, including Johnny Kilbane, Rocky Kansas, Johnny Dundee, Lew Tendler, and Freddie Welsh. New York Mirror veteran sports columnist Dan Parker called him, "probably the best club fighter of this or any other century."

Birth and Death Dates:
b. July 11, 1897 - d. November 12, 1961

Career Highlights:
In 1913, Jackson turned professional as a lightweight; he won his first fight, but his next 36 bouts were no decisions. After losing to the great Johnny Kilbane in May 1916 (TKO in the fifth-round), Willie gained national prominence by knocking out future world champ Johnny Dundee in the first-round in January 1917. Jackson faced Dundee ten more times, and never lost. He also faced the great Lew Tendler five times, and lost only one of those contests. During their 1919 fight (third bout), Jackson knocked Tendler down in the first round. Tendler's manager doused his fighter with water just as he was about to be counted out. The referee stopped counting and turned to warn Tendler's manager, giving Tendler enough time to recover. The fight finished in a six-round no decision.

Jackson also fought future lightweight champion Rocky Kansas four times (three no decisions and one loss), future junior-welterweight champ Pinky Mitchell once (a 15-round draw in 1921), and former lightweight champion Freddie Welsh in 1921 (Jackson was knocked out in the eighth-round). Despite fighting the top lightweights of his time, Jackson never got a title bout from the best lightweight, champion Benny Leonard. Leonard had won the title from Freddie Welsh in 1917 and held it for almost eight years, but he never gave Jackson a title shot. They fought only once -- a four-round non-title exhibition bout in New York City in July 1918. Jackson retired in 1922 with 25 wins out of 42 decisions; and 115 no decision bouts.

Origin:
New York City

Career Statistics:
Professional record:
Wins: 25 (17 by knockout)
Losses: 9
Draws: 8
No decisions: 115
No contests: 1

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