Jack Petersen

by Ralph Oates

Jack Petersen was born in Cardiff on the 2nd September 1911. Petersen showed that he was a class boxer in the amateur ranks when catching the eye of many fans who witnessed him perform. He seemed destined to join the paid ranks.

Peterson hence made his professional debut on the 21st September 1931 at the Holborn Stadium, London against Bill Partridge whom he knocked out in round 4 of 6. This was the expected result for the Welshman who looked in command from the first bell. In the months which followed Petersen continued to display his skills in the ring. It was soon apparent that this man was a star in the making; a future champion with a serious threat to anyone in the domestic division both at light-heavyweight and heavyweight.

On the 3rd February 1932 in his fourteenth contest, the undefeated Petersen entered the ring at the Greyfriars Hall, Cardiff to challenge Dick Power for the Welsh heavyweight crown. The contest was scheduled for 15 rounds but was over very quickly when Petersen knocked out Power in the opening session to take the championship. The result more than confirmed the potential that the Welshman had. There would of course be tougher challenges ahead, for the new Welsh title holder but at that moment Petersen appeared to have the ability to overcome them when they arrived.

Four bouts after defeating Power, Petersen entered the ring on the 23rd May 1932 at the

Holborn Stadium, London. This was a big moment for the Welshman since he was challenging for the British light-heavyweight crown. The defending champion was Harry Crossley a very experienced ring operator. The fight proved to be absorbing and went the full 15 rounds which saw Petersen take the championship with a points decision. In his next bout the man from Cardiff moved up a weight division and challenged Reggie Meen on the 12th July 1932 for the British heavyweight title. The fight took place at The Wimbledon Stadium, London. The bout was scheduled for 15 but was all over in the second stanza when Petersen knocked out Meen to take the title. Petersen who was now undefeated in 20 bouts became the first Welshman to win the British heavyweight crown.

On his next outing in the ring, Petersen took on Germany’s Hans Schonrath on the 2nd January 1933 at the Greyfriars Hall, Cardiff in a bout scheduled for 12 but ending in round 9 when the Welshman brought the contest to a conclusion by winning by a knockout. The first defence of the British heavyweight title took place on the 26th January 1933 when Petersen met his challenger Jack Pettifer at the Olympia, Kensington, London. The champion retained his crown when he knocked out his challenger in round 12 in a bout slatted for 15.

After a further 3 winning bouts Petersen put his championship on the line once again on the 12th

July 1933 at the White City Stadium, London against Jack Doyle. The 15 round encounter came to a close in round 2 when Doyle was disqualified. The end was a little disappointing for the fans in attendance, since they were expecting a hard- hitting encounter which would be full of fireworks. However for Petersen his undefeated record now stood at 26.

We all have good days and bad days in life. On the 30th November 1933 Petersen had a really bad day when he suffered a loss for the first time in the paid ranks. The man who inflicted that defeat was Len Harvey a fighter who to his credit had won the British and Empire middleweight titles and also the British light-heavyweight crown. He was very experienced to say the least having accumulated a professional record of 131 bouts winning 112 losing 10 and drawing 9. When looking at that resume it was apparent that this would be no easy contest for Petersen. Harvey was a real threat to the Welshman’s reign. At the Royal Albert Hall, London the title changed hands when Harvey won the British heavyweight title by way of a 15 round points decision.

This was a setback for Petersen but he wasted no time in getting his name back in the win column, thus gaining 4 victories in the months which followed. The run of success saw him get a deserved return with Len Harvey for the British crown. The contest took place on the 4th June 1934 at the White City Stadium, London. Since taking the title from Petersen, Harvey had also won the Empire crown which would also be on the line in this meeting. The Welshman had to win this fight to get his career back on track, defeat was not an option to lose again would be a disaster for him. On the night Petersen was very much on form and gained revenge by stopping Harvey in round 12 of 15 to take the titles. This was a good win for Petersen who found that he was once again a major attraction in the sport. At that moment in time the reigning World heavyweight Champion was Italian Primo Carnera.

After two more winning bouts Petersen met Germany’s Walter Neusel a fighter who was no easy touch. The two crossed gloves on the 4th February 1935 at the Wembley Arena, London. The contest was scheduled for 15 rounds. For the second time in his professional career the Welshman left the ring a defeated fighter when he retired in round 11. A return between the pair took place on the 25th June 1935 in a bout scheduled for the duration of 12 rounds. It was hoped that Petersen would gain revenge and hence get his career back on a successful footing. It was not to be. Petersen retired in round 10. There was no two ways about it, the defeat was a massive setback for the Welshman.

On the 29th January 1936 Petersen returned to the square ring and in a contest which took place at the Wembley Arena he successfully defended his British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles against Len Harvey earning a 15 round points decision. The Cardiff man stepped between the ropes once again on the 23rd April 1936 where upon he met the highly dangerous Jock McAvoy in defence of his titles the venue being the Earls Court Empress Hall, Kensington London. This was a risky assignment for the Welsh fighter. However after 15 rounds Petersen left the ring with his champion status still intact when he was given a 15 round points decision. All now appeared to be going well for the Welshman however on the 17th August 1936 he entered the fray at the Welford Road Stadium, Leicester to defend his titles against Ben Foord. Petersen had defeated Foord in a non-title fight on the 8th March 1934 at the Royal Albert Hall by a stoppage in round 13 of 15. A victory looked to be very much on the cards for Petersen but in boxing nothing can be taken for granted in round 3 of 15 he was stopped by his challenger.

After a brief rest Petersen once again took to the ring and once again faced Germany’s Walter Neusel in a 12-round contest at the Harringay Arena. It was hoped that it would be third time lucky for Petersen after previously suffering two defeats at the hands of Neusel. Yet once again the German fighter defeated the Welshman who retired in round 10. The Welshman could not get past the German fighter.

The Neusel contest proved to be the last time that Petersen would box inside the professional ring, he later retired from the sport. His resume was more than credible having taken part in 40 bouts winning 35 and losing 5.

There was no doubt that Jack Petersen was a credit to the sport of boxing. He was well respected and in retirement was a fine ambassador for the sport. He was awarded the OBE in 1978 and sadly died on the 22nd November 1990.

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