Part 2 - Tyrone Jackson

After our look at Jackson’s career in the first part of “Looking back with Tyrone Jackson”, I had the pleasure of catching up with “The Harlem Butcher” from his home in New York. The engaging, well-spoken husband, father and grandfather was a delight to chat with about his amateur and professional career. Tyrone (“Jeffrey” to people who really know him) was a pleasure to chat with.

Bill Tibbs: Hi Tyrone. Thank you for taking a minute to chat.

Tyrone Jackson: Yes Bill, for sure.

BT: Tell me about your amateur career.

TJ: I had 52 wins as an amateur, 37 KO’s. Won the New York Golden Gloves, Spanish Gloves, Inter-City, Empire State Games, had a good amateur career, great memories.

BT: Best memory in boxing?

TJ: Oh, winning the Golden Gloves for sure. It is the most recognized piece of jewellery here. The fights you have, the people you meet in the tournament, you face someone in the gloves, and they are friends for life.

BT: You go pro after your amateur career wraps up.

TJ: I did, and I thought I knew everything, but I realized that everything a boxer needed, I needed double. (Laughs). I used to try to trap guys in the corner, but I didn’t know about boxing and footwork. I really didn’t have a plan as such. I thought, ‘I’ll try to have 10 fights’, then I thought ‘I’ll try to have 15 fights’.

BT: You trained with Chris Reid. I used to love watching his early fights when he was coming up. He was ferocious.

TJ: Oh man, he was a construction guy from New Jersey. He was always ready to kick ass. He was all about business, hardly ever spoke. I was the only guy he’d speak to. He was very quiet, didn’t speak to anyone. But, in the ring, he was all about business, no fooling with him. He was a strong, tough guy. He used to beat up Iran Barklay at the old Gleason’s Gym.

BT: That was so sad, Chris passed so young. That hit me hard, I really admired him as a fighter.

TJ: Oh yeah, that was sad man. Too young. Always remember him coming to the ring with all the bagpipes.

BT: You turn pro in ’81, by ’86 you are 22-0 and then you fight for the IBF featherweight title in Korea. What was that experience like?

TJ: I don’t know what to say. I was unprepared over there. I couldn’t run. I just wasn’t in a good situation there. The food was disgusting, it was not agreeing with me at all. But, the guy was a good fighter, he was good. I wasn’t ready. The guy I had managing me didn’t really know anything about boxing, he knew about money but not boxing. I got a title shot but the preparation wasn’t there.

BT: Did you connect with Teddy (Atlas) when you got back?

TJ: No, I was training out in the projects on Long Island and I realized after the Floyd Favors fight in ’87, I wasn’t learning anything. I won the fight, stopped him in the 10th round but I knew I needed a change. Teddy’s name was buzzing like church bells on a Sunday. He was the hot trainer. I chased him for a month, and he finally agreed.

BT: What are your memories of working with Teddy?

TJ: Well, he is a walking encyclopedia of boxing. We used to talk about everything, not just boxing, we’d talk about life and choices we make and everything. Teddy was like a brother to me. I learned so much from him. I have so much respect for him.

BT: You run off some nice wins with Teddy, you are improving, and then you get a shot at Tony Lopez and his IBF world super featherweight title in Stateline, Nevada. You never seemed to get into a rhythm in that fight. Was it Lopez? The venue? The atmosphere? What do you think? What do you remember about that fight?

TJ: The bell rang, and I didn’t freeze up, it wasn’t the venue, but, I don’t know. It just wasn’t me in there that day. I mean Lopez was talking about retiring after the fight because he was having so much trouble making weight. The guy had to drop down naked to make the weight. But it just wasn’t me in there that day. I wasn’t me in the ring that day.

BT: You come back with a good performance in Mexico and then a couple of fights later you really redeem yourself with a great performance against former (and future, multiple) world champion Manuel Medina in a fight Teddy insists you won.

TJ: Oh Bill, I won that fight. I mean I dropped him, and they didn’t score it a knockdown, I hurt him a couple of times. The announcer Ruben Castillo was even commenting on how he thought I won the fight.

BT: Teddy invited you to his Hall of Fame induction a few years ago.

TJ: That made me feel good that he wanted me there. I think he always wanted Chris Reid and I to win titles. But, he sent a car for me and got me there and it was really nice that he wanted me to be there for such a special occasion. Teddy has worked with a lot of great fighters, and he wanted me to be there, meant a lot to me.

BT: What have you been doing since you stopped fighting?

TJ: I work at MSG. I set up for all the entertainment there. I put up the ring for fights, the boards for hockey games, the floor for basketball. It’s a great job, I eat for free. I also work at another building. I’m involved with helping ex fighters get back on their feet through Ring 10, been doing work with them for years. I’m 61, been working all the time, always had 2 jobs, had 4 at one time. Life is good. I’m married, let me see, 35 years now. I have 4 kids, living in the Bronx, in Little Italy.

BT: Tyrone, looking back are you satisfied with your career?

TJ: I had a lot of great moments in the amateurs. But, the pro’s? No. I mean if you play in the NBA you want the rings and if you fight pro you want to win all the belts. Everybody wants to ride off into the sunset after their career a multi-millionaire, but boxing is a hard business. But, Bill, I had a ball and I wouldn’t change a thing.

BT: Tyrone, such a pleasure talking to you. I have been a fan for a long time. I owe you lunch next time I’m in New York. Thanks for your time.

TJ: Let’s do it. No problem, Bill. Thanks.