Harlem’s Tyrone Jackson Headed to the Hall

The New York State Boxing Hall of Fame (NYSBHOF) recently announced its 2024 class. The 12th Annual induction ceremony will be on September 15th in Howard Beach, New York.

One of the boxers being inducted in the “Living Boxers” category is New York’s Tyrone “The Harlem Butcher” Jackson.  A celebrated amateur, Jackson won the New York Golden Gloves and twice challenged for a world title as a pro.

Joining Jackson in the “Living Boxers” category is former WBO Super Bantamweight and Super Featherweight champion Joan Guzman of Queens and the Bronx. Also, Rocky Fratto, a WBA world title challenger from Geneva. And, Hempstead, Long Island’s Johnny Davis, a long-time light heavyweight contender and WBA title challenger.

Also being celebrated that night in the “Posthumous” category are Alfonso “Panama Al” Brown, a long-time Bantamweight champion, 160 –175-pound contender Johnny Colan, and featherweight champions Peter Scalzo and Phil Terranova.

Jackson turned pro in the summer of 1981 and racked up a perfect 22- 0 in his first 5 years. This impressive record, (22-0,) along with his impressive power (17 KO’s) earned him a shot at the IBF champ Ki Young Chung of South Korea. Chung was making the 1st defence of his world featherweight title.

Jackson, fighting on the road, and in his first big world title fight, had his moments but was stopped in the 6th round.

Returning to the ring a year later, Jackson would bang out 8 wins over the next 2 years, earning him a shot at champion Tony Lopez. Fighting in Stateline, Nevada, this was definitely another road game for Jackson as Lopez had a solid, West Coast fan base fighting out of Sacramento, California. Jackson was stopped in the 8th frame by Lopez who was an aggressive, hard-punching brawler.

Frustrated and encouraged by his world-renowned trainer Teddy Atlas to consider retirement, Jackson was unsure what was next. However, he returned to the ring 4 months later and over the next 7 months would fight 3 more times. 

While he went 1-2 in the fights, Atlas liked the performances and commitment that Jackson showed to get back the form that displayed his natural talents. His best showing of the 3 bouts was a very close points loss to future world champion Manuel Medina, who would win a world title the following year.

While Jackson came up short on the cards, Atlas and announcer Ruben Castillo both commented that Jackson clearly won the fight. That performance, coming back from a difficult title loss, allowed Jackson to walk away with his head held high.

Jackson retired from the sport with a final ledger of 31-6, with 25 KO’s.

Jackson will be 64 this year and is a full-time employee at Madison Square Garden in New York. Reached a couple years ago in an interview regarding his career, Jackson said, “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”.

Reached for the same article, former trainer Atlas said this of Jackson.

“He’s doing great, working, a good father, a good husband. Tyrone is a real good man and he accomplished something important in boxing”, he said. “Let me tell you, when I got inducted into the Boxing Hall of Fame, I didn’t call a lot of people. I had some friends from my days at ESPN that I wanted there, and I had all my family. But, the one fighter I called, that I really wanted there, was Tyrone Jackson - that tells you something."

It certainly does - it tells us everything.

Congratulations Tyrone on a great career and a well-deserved Hall of Fame honour from your home state.