Warren Karaitiana

Ron Jackson was the older brother of a pair of famous New Zealand boxing brothers in the 1970s.

He and his younger brother, David, both trained by Alan Scaife at the Heretaunga Boxing club, won a string of national titles and represented New Zealand at the 1974 and 1978 Commonwealth Games. David also boxed at the 1976 Montreal Olympics.

At Christchurch in 1974, Ron boxed in the welterweight division. In his first bout he knocked out Ray Taefu of Western Samoa in the second round. Next up he met the Scot, Steven Cooney and lost a split decision.

At the 1978 Edmonton Commonwealth Games, he lost a closely contested split decision to Western Samoan Ropati Samu in his opening bout in the light-middleweight class.

David and Ron won nine New Zealand titles between them in a six-year period. Ron Jackson won the light-middleweight division in 1974, 76, 77 and 78 and the welterweight title in 1973. David Jackson won the welterweight crown in 1975 and 1978 and the light welterweight in 1973 and 1974.

But more incredibly, between them they won the prestigious Jameson Belt, for the most scientific boxer at the national championships, six years in succession. David won it in 1975 and 1978, Ron in 1973 and 1974, 1976 and 1977. The Jameson Belt was presented to the New Zealand Boxing Association in 1927 by well-known Dublin distiller John Jameson and Son.

The brothers’ international record was impressive, with David having 10 wins in 14 bouts. Three of his losses were by split decision. Ron had 13 wins in 18 bouts and all five of his losses were by split decision.

Both Jacksons were in the Heretaunga club team that boxed the Muhammad Ali Amateur Boxing Club in Pennsylvania in 1978, when Ron Jackson was one of only two New Zealanders to record a victory in the 6-2 defeat.

Such was the respect in which the older Jackson was held, he was awarded the captaincy of the New Zealand team for the Oceania championships team in Australia in 1979.