#DÉTAILS#
100% Non-scratch cotton fleece 390g.
Collar finish, knitted side edges.
Sleeve finish, single shave, rolled up.
Patch kangaroo pocket
Loose fit
Chain stitch embroidery
Made in Portugal
MEEKINS "the TATTOOED" - the man with 1700 fights.
Jack Meekins was born on 16 May 1880 in Lambeth, South London.
By the age of 11, when Jack's stepmother was pregnant with his second child, his father had deserted the household, but it seems that he came and went within the family nucleus. But a week after his first departure, Alice and Jack joined the Woolwich Union Workhouse asylums for the destitute. Jack left the asylum on 10 February 1892 after two months' detention.
More than a year later, on 24 March 1893, he returned to the asylum to perfect what seems to me to be the beginning of his interest in bare knuckle boxing. He was sent there by the police and expelled 6 days later. This was the last time he stayed there but it is not clear why Jack at the age of 12 needed the police intervention, but it is easy to understand.
At the age of 14 Jack entered the more "official" world of boxing and his career looked very promising.
Meekins began his boxing career in the Royal Navy. In 1899 he won the Warwickshire Regimental Championship and in 1901 he was Malta Champion. The following year he was sent home by the regiment to win the Army and Navy Championship at Aldershot.
After that he started boxing professionally. In 1903 he went to New York to meet Nelson, who was at that time world welterweight champion. He returned to England and was hired by Jack Wolf to come to the famous "Wonderland", the
He returned to England and was hired by Jack Wolf to come to the famous "Wonderland", the pre-war boxing centre in the East End.
Although weighing only 65, 316 kg, Meekins made over 1000 fights in the short time he was there and met men of all weights, including some of the best heavyweights of the time.
He gained notoriety in 1905, following the sensational defeat of the French savate champion and proved once and for all to the sports enthusiasts of France that the fist game won every time with the feet. Following this fight*, "savate" gradually disappeared in France.
After that he left Rothschild and joined "Peggy" Bettison at the N.S.C.1 who sent him back to France to train some of the best future French boxers. There he met Georges Carpentier, who beat him on points. This is what created the Carpentier legend.
Two of Meekins last fights were against Harry and Willy Lewis just before the Great War. He retired from the sport in 1914 with an incredible record.
Meekins was an old school fighter. By his example and courage he inspired many of today's young fighters.
Shortly after 1914, Jack worked for more than 20 years as a taxi driver,
In early 1937 he was involved in a road accident which he invalidated.
Jack MEEKINS died on 7 August 1950 in Kingston-upon-Thames, aged 70.
Washing precautions:
30°C Max
Do not tumble dry
