When serious amateur boxing fans in New Zealand caste their gaze upon the list of Jameson Belt winners, they will be met by an array of champions of the highest order.

The John Jameson Belt was presented to the New Zealand Boxing Association in 1927 by the firm of John Jameson and Sons Ltd, Bow Street Distillery, Dublin. At each championship, the referees and judges confer and award the belt to the most scientific (senior male) boxer.

In just two years, Boxing New Zealand will celebrate a full century since the inaugural Jameson Belt was awarded at the 1927 NZBA National Championships held in Invercargill. 

The John Jameson Belt history, records boxers such as Paddy Donovan who was the first to win the most scientific prize on three occasions, in 1956, 1959 and 1962

Brian Kendall, who earned the Jameson prize in 1966 and 1967, was unbeaten in 18 National titles fights. Ron and David Jackson, trained by Alan Scaife, took the Jameson Belt back to the Hutt Valley six seasons in succession.

Shane Cameron (2001) and David Nyika (2018) remain the only heavyweights to have their names on the Jameson Belt.

However, they must all stand behind the first boxer to have his name engraved on the most prestigious prize in New Zealand amateur boxing.

Auckland pugilist, Jack O'Sullivan, added the John Jameson and Sons Belt to his Bantamweight crown in Invercargill, during August 1927. 

Prior to WW2, the Auckland and Wellington provincial titles ranked only behind a national crown in significance. Jack O'Sullivan came to the Invercargill championship ring with the 1923 Auckland Flyweight title and the 1924 Auckland Bantamweight championship, amongst his string of victories.

Jack, quickly shook of the rust of a two year break after defeat at the 1927 Auckland championships, when he knocked out James Evans from Manawatu in preliminary competition in Invercargill.

His semi-final opponent was Percy Hawes from Canterbury who had also recorded a KO win in his first fight. Jack threw a barrage of combinations to grab the decision from his South Island opponent.

O’Sullivan, then went on to dispatch Herbert Larsen (Wellington) in the Bantamweight national title decider by way of another points win.

O'Sullivan impressed the referees and judges who adjudicated on the Jameson Belt in Invercargill, with his willingness in engaging his three opponents without taking many backward steps.

The 1927 National Championships had double importance with 1928 Amsterdam Olympic nominations also on the line.

NZBA Chairman of selectors Mr Earl Stewart, reported to the New Zealand Boxing Association, that the two Wellington boxers in Lightweight champion Edward Morgan and Alfred Cleverley who won the Light Heavyweight crown. were foregone conclusions for Olympic honours.

Not so well known, was that Mr Stewart also recommended Jack O'Sullivan be considered by the New Zealand Olympic Committee, after endorsing Morgan and Cleverley.

Mr Stewart reported to the NZBA, that twenty year old Jack O'Sullivan did all that was asked of him in Invercargill, by winning all his bouts in a convincing manner.

History shows, that Ted Morgan became New Zealand's first Olympic Gold medalist, in spite of having to move up to the Welterweight division and damaging a knuckle in one of his early bouts.

Alf Cleverley tasted defeat from Alfred Jackson from England In his first bout after a brave display. The Jack O'Sullivan nomination was apparently rejected by the New Zealand Olympic Committee. 

New Zealand Boxing Association National Bantamweight Title 1927

Jack O’Sullivan (Auckland)                  defeated           Herbert Larsen (Wellington) - points

Jack O’Sullivan (Auckland)                  defeated           Percival Hawes (Canterbury) - points

Herbert Larsen (Wellington)                 defeated           Walter Allan Parker (Otago) - points 

Percival Hawes (Canterbury)                defeated           Len Jarvis (Southland) - KO.2

Walter Allan Parker (Otago)                 defeated           Len Knuckley (Hawkes Bay) - points

Jack O’Sullivan (Auckland)                  defeated           James Evans (Manawatu) - KO.2

Herbert Larsen –Wellington                  defeated           Percival Hutchinson (Napier)  - points

Post Script: At the conclusion of the BNZ 2007 National Championships held on the North Shore of Auckland, the highlight of the prizegiving presentations was the presence of Mr Dave O’Sullivan, who was a son of Jack O’Sullivan the first winner of the Jameson Belt, some eighty years prior.

Dave O’Sullivan, was a legendary thoroughbred trainer, who kindly accepted a invitation to present the Jameson Belt to Middleweight champion Joe Blackbourn, eight decades after his father won the inaugural most scientific award.

There was great delight in the Blackbourn camp, when Dave O’Sullivan presented the 2007 James Belt winner with a large framed photograph of his father in fighting attire, on behalf of the O’Sullivan family.

Article added: Tuesday 04 March 2025