Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson was a contemporary of Floyd Patterson and Sonny Liston. While he was known for skill in the ring, it was his stamina and ability to absorb punishment that made him a boxing great worth remembering.

The Career of Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson

His career began and was mainly based in New York City in 1951. Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson won his first match in July of that year against Terry Halpine. For a good chunk of the 1950s, he was a tough journeyman boxer who won the bulk of his bouts.

Two of his biggest matches of the decade was against Ezzard Charles, a former World Heavyweight Champion who was ending his career that year. The two matches took place weeks apart in August and resulted in unanimous decision victories for Hurricane.

His other two huge matches came against Floyd Patterson, an up-and-comer who was riding towards a shot at the Heavyweight title. Jackson’s in-ring performance and record meant he was usually near the top as far as challengers go. While there were definitely better brawlers and ring scientists than Hurricane he was no slouch himself.

As mentioned before, the thing that kept him in the stratosphere of heavyweight competition was his stamina and fortitude. Hurricane was a fighter who didn’t quit and took matches when he most likely shouldn’t. He was a pugilist who could long rounds and box in a way to get victories that were determined by judges. Hurricane would walk away from the ring in the early 1960s with a record of 35-9-1. Sixteen of those wins were by knockout.

It’s unknown what Jackson did immediately after leaving boxing in 1961. In the last few years of his life, he made a living as a shoe shine and driving taxis in New York. Tommy “Hurricane” Jackson died on February 14, 1982, the victim of a car crash while driving his taxi. He was 50 years old.

REFERENCE: http://boxrec.com/en/boxer/10367