Julian Jackson (born September 12, 1960) is a former professional boxer from the U.S. Virgin Islands who competed from 1981 to 1998. He is a three-time world champion in two weight classes, having held the World Boxing Association (WBA) super welterweight title from 1987 to 1990, and the World Boxing Council (WBC) middleweight title twice between 1990 and 1995. Possessing formidable punching power, with a knockout-to-win rate of 89%, Jackson is regarded by many as one of the hardest punchers in boxing history, pound for pound, and was ranked number 25 by The Ring magazine in a 2003 list of the "100 Greatest Punchers". Jackson was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2019.
Jackson represented the United States Virgin Islands at the 1979 Pan American Games, losing his first fight to Jose Baret of the Dominican Republic.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Julian Jackson
- Born: September 12, 1960 — Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Nationality: American (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Reach: 73 in (185 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: Feb 2, 1981 (Win by PTS vs Inocencio Carmona)
- Last bout: May 24, 1998 (Loss by TKO vs Anthony Jones)
- Total rounds boxed: 234 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Light middleweight, Middleweight
- KO percentage: 89.1% (49 KO wins in 55 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): WBA super welterweight title November 21, 1987 – 1989 (won the vacant title from Baek In-chul; defended against Buster Drayton, Francisco de Jesus and Terry Norris, per the bout table, before the move to middleweight); WBC middleweight title November 24, 1990 – May 8, 1993 (won the vacant title from Herol Graham; defended against Dennis Milton, Ismael Negron, Ron Collins and Thomas Tate; lost to Gerald McClellan); WBC middleweight title (second reign) March 17, 1995 – August 19, 1995 (won the vacant title from Agostino Cardamone; lost to Quincy Taylor) — all dates per the bout table
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 61
- Wins: 55
- Wins by KO: 49
- Losses: 6
- Losses by KO: 6
- Draws: 0
- No contests: 0
- Born: September 12, 1960 — Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
- Nationality: American (U.S. Virgin Islands)
- Height: 5 ft 11 in (180 cm)
- Reach: 73 in (185 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Light middleweight, Middleweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Feb 2, 1981 | Inocencio Carmona | Win | PTS | 4 | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 2 | Mar 5, 1981 | Rafael Ayala | Win | KO | 1 (4) | Trujillo Alto, Puerto Rico |
| 3 | May 9, 1981 | Marcelino Flores | Win | KO | 2 (4) | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 4 | May 15, 1981 | Reyes Escalera | Win | TKO | 3 (6) | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 5 | Aug 15, 1981 | Edwin Rodriguez | Win | KO | 1 (6) | San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 6 | Sep 26, 1981 | Dario De Asa | Win | KO | 3 (8) | Convention Center, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 7 | Mar 20, 1982 | William Page | Win | UD | 6 | Playboy Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 8 | Jun 8, 1982 | Al Cook | Win | KO | 2 (8), 2:15 | Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. |
| 9 | Aug 18, 1982 | Miguel Sepulveda | Win | TKO | 3 (8), 0:24 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 10 | Nov 17, 1982 | Mack Heimbaugh | Win | TKO | 4 (8) | Civic Arena, St. Joseph, Missouri, U.S. |
| 11 | Feb 19, 1983 | Dominic Fox | Win | KO | 2 (10), 2:19 | Hato Rey, Puerto Rico |
| 12 | Mar 6, 1983 | Jake Torrance | Win | TKO | 5 (10) | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 13 | May 18, 1983 | Reinaldo Roque | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:46 | Dunes, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 14 | Jun 25, 1983 | David Plowden | Win | KO | 3 (10) | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 15 | Oct 15, 1983 | Jeff Nelson | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 2:31 | Knight International Center, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| 16 | Jan 20, 1984 | Carlton Brown | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Felt Forum, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 17 | Mar 17, 1984 | Eddie Gazo | Win | KO | 2 (10), 0:36 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 18 | May 16, 1984 | JJ Cottrell | Win | TKO | 5 (10), 2:57 | Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, U.S. |
| 19 | Jan 20, 1984 | Ron Lee Warrior | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 2:35 | Roberto Clemente Coliseum, San Juan, Puerto Rico — ★ Title fight — Won WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title |
| 20 | Aug 15, 1984 | Curtis Ramsey | Win | TKO | 12 (12), 0:43 | Riviera, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title |
| 21 | Nov 3, 1984 | Santos Solis | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:14 | Hiram Bithorn Stadium, San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 22 | Nov 21, 1984 | Tim Harris | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 0:18 | Riviera Hotel & Casino, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title |
| 23 | Jul 12, 1985 | Rafael Corona | Win | KO | 3 (12) | Marriott Hotel, Santa Clara, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title |
| 24 | Aug 10, 1985 | José Padilla | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 1:22 | Riviera Hotel & Casino, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 25 | Nov 15, 1985 | Raúl Hernandez | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Tamiami Fairgrounds Auditorium, Miami, Florida, U.S. |
| 26 | Feb 28, 1986 | Lopez McGee | Win | KO | 4 (12) | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title |
| 27 | Mar 22, 1986 | Mark Allman | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Riviera Hotel & Casino, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 28 | Apr 19, 1986 | Francisco Del Toro | Win | KO | 2 (10), 2:05 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 29 | May 20, 1986 | Derrick Drane | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 2:16 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. |
| 30 | Aug 23, 1986 | Mike McCallum | Loss | TKO | 2 (15), 2:03 | Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBA super welterweight title |
| 31 | Dec 19, 1986 | Khalif Shabazz | Win | KO | 1 (10) | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 32 | Apr 24, 1987 | Milton Leaks | Win | TKO | 10 (12), 0:38 | Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title |
| 33 | Nov 21, 1987 | Baek In-chul | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 1:17 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBA super welterweight title |
| 34 | Apr 16, 1988 | Reggie Barnes | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. |
| 35 | Jun 25, 1988 | Efren Olivo | Win | TKO | 1 (10) | Trump Plaza Hotel and Casino, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. |
| 36 | Jul 30, 1988 | Buster Drayton | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 2:57 | Broadway by the Bay Theater, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super welterweight title |
| 37 | Feb 25, 1989 | Francisco de Jesus | Win | KO | 8 (12), 2:19 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super welterweight title |
| 38 | May 13, 1989 | Derwin Richards | Win | TKO | 6 (10), 1:33 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| 39 | Jul 30, 1989 | Terry Norris | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 1:33 | Convention Hall, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA super welterweight title |
| 40 | May 18, 1990 | John McClendon | Win | KO | 2 (10) | Saint Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands |
| 41 | Jun 16, 1990 | Wayne Powell | Win | TKO | 4 (10), 1:36 | Caesars Palace, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 42 | Nov 24, 1990 | Herol Graham | Win | KO | 4 (12), 1:13 | Torrequebrada Hotel & Casino, Benalmádena, Spain — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC middleweight title |
| 43 | Sep 14, 1991 | Dennis Milton | Win | KO | 1 (12), 2:10 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 44 | Feb 15, 1992 | Ismael Negron | Win | TKO | 1 (12), 0:50 | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 45 | Apr 10, 1992 | Ron Collins | Win | TKO | 5 (12), 1:27 | Toreo de Cuatro Caminos, Mexico City, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 46 | Aug 1, 1992 | Thomas Tate | Win | UD | 12 | Las Vegas Hilton, Winchester, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC middleweight title |
| 47 | Dec 13, 1992 | Eddie Hall | Win | TKO | 4 (10) | The Mirage, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 48 | May 8, 1993 | Gerald McClellan | Loss | TKO | 5 (12), 2:09 | Thomas & Mack Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC middleweight title |
| 49 | Aug 6, 1993 | Carlton Haywood | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 2:16 | Coliseo Rubén Rodríguez, Bayamón, Puerto Rico |
| 50 | Dec 15, 1993 | Jaime Montano | Win | TKO | 1 (10), 1:50 | The Aladdin, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 51 | Mar 4, 1994 | Eduardo Ayala | Win | UD | 10 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 52 | May 7, 1994 | Gerald McClellan | Loss | KO | 1 (12), 1:23 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBC middleweight title |
| 53 | Dec 17, 1994 | Luis Buitron | Win | TKO | 3 (10) | Coliseo General Rumiñahui, Quito, Ecuador |
| 54 | Mar 17, 1995 | Agostino Cardamone | Win | TKO | 2 (12), 1:50 | Memorial Auditorium, Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC middleweight title |
| 55 | Aug 19, 1995 | Quincy Taylor | Loss | TKO | 6 (12), 2:33 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBC middleweight title |
| 56 | Sep 9, 1996 | Leonardo Aguilar | Win | UD | 10 | Great Western Forum, Inglewood, California, U.S. |
| 57 | Dec 7, 1996 | Augustine Renteria | Win | UD | 10 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |
| 58 | Jul 25, 1997 | Terry Ford | Win | TKO | 2 (10), 1:01 | Tropicana Las Vegas, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 59 | Oct 31, 1997 | Eduardo Gutiérrez | Win | TKO | 3 (10), 0:36 | Packard Music Hall, Warren, Ohio, U.S. |
| 60 | Jan 23, 1998 | Verno Phillips | Loss | KO | 9 (12), 2:01 | Grand Casino Tunica, Robinsonville, Mississippi, U.S. — ★ Title fight — For WBU super welterweight title |
| 61 | May 24, 1998 | Anthony Jones | Loss | TKO | 9 (10), 1:31 | The Palace, Auburn Hills, Michigan, U.S. |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): WBA super welterweight title November 21, 1987 – 1989 (won the vacant title from Baek In-chul; defended against Buster Drayton, Francisco de Jesus and Terry Norris, per the bout table, before the move to middleweight); WBC middleweight title November 24, 1990 – May 8, 1993 (won the vacant title from Herol Graham; defended against Dennis Milton, Ismael Negron, Ron Collins and Thomas Tate; lost to Gerald McClellan); WBC middleweight title (second reign) March 17, 1995 – August 19, 1995 (won the vacant title from Agostino Cardamone; lost to Quincy Taylor) — all dates per the bout table
- Jan 20, 1984 vs Ron Lee Warrior: Won WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title
- Aug 15, 1984 vs Curtis Ramsey: Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title
- Nov 21, 1984 vs Tim Harris: Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title
- Jul 12, 1985 vs Rafael Corona: Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title
- Feb 28, 1986 vs Lopez McGee: Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title
- Aug 23, 1986 vs Mike McCallum: For WBA super welterweight title
- Apr 24, 1987 vs Milton Leaks: Retained WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title
- Nov 21, 1987 vs Baek In-chul: Won vacant WBA super welterweight title
- Jul 30, 1988 vs Buster Drayton: Retained WBA super welterweight title
- Feb 25, 1989 vs Francisco de Jesus: Retained WBA super welterweight title
- Jul 30, 1989 vs Terry Norris: Retained WBA super welterweight title
- Nov 24, 1990 vs Herol Graham: Won vacant WBC middleweight title
- Sep 14, 1991 vs Dennis Milton: Retained WBC middleweight title
- Feb 15, 1992 vs Ismael Negron: Retained WBC middleweight title
- Apr 10, 1992 vs Ron Collins: Retained WBC middleweight title
- Aug 1, 1992 vs Thomas Tate: Retained WBC middleweight title
- May 8, 1993 vs Gerald McClellan: Lost WBC middleweight title
- May 7, 1994 vs Gerald McClellan: For WBC middleweight title
- Mar 17, 1995 vs Agostino Cardamone: Won vacant WBC middleweight title
- Aug 19, 1995 vs Quincy Taylor: Lost WBC middleweight title
- Jan 23, 1998 vs Verno Phillips: For WBU super welterweight title
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-11-04.
