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 34 CARDIFF TIMES
Image permission of Derek Rowe: Jack Petersen left, Henry Cooper centre, Tommy Farr right.
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
