1998 Greater Flint African American Sports Hall of Fame Inductee
Category: Boxing
J.W. Jackson was born and raised in Flint and attended Parkland Elementary, Emerson and Whittier Junior High, Central and Southwestern High School. At Central, J.W. ran on the 1959 State Track Championship team along with Hall of Fame inductees, Ron Watkins and Arthur Thrash.
Due to school boundary changes, J.W. had to attend the newly built Southwestern High School in 1960. While there, he lettered in wrestling. Boxing, however, became J.W.’s best sport he was a natural.
In 1958 J.W. won the Golden Gloves State Open Bantam Weight Championship and in 1960 he won the Golden Gloves State Open Featherweight Championship. Ring side observers pointed out that J.W. was the most polished fighter the tournament had seen in years.
He was a three-time Golden Gloves Champion in the Featherweight division and won his fight for state championship over Ed Vasquez of Detroit, Michigan, in a unanimous decision to capture the amateur athletic union title. He qualified for the AAU Tournament in Pocatello, Idaho. In four city Golden Gloves Tournaments, J.W. owns four titles and two state titles in three tries.
Congratulations J.W., you have made your mark in Flint history.
