Career
Born in Bozeat and raised in Bozeat and Rushden, Harrison was a former Guardsman who first fought at middleweight. His first known fight was in 1907. Harrison beat Harry Mansfield on points at the National Sporting Club, Covent Garden in May 1911.
In May 1912 he beat Pat McEnroy to take the British middleweight title vacated by Jim Sullivan and the Lonsdale Belt.
He travelled to the United States in August 1912 with Welsh boxer Eddie Morgan, and fought Eddie McGoorty for the World middlweight title at Madison Square Garden. McGoorty knocked Harrison out in the first round to take the title.
He also lost to Young Sammy Smith. He returned to the United Kingdom and fought Ted Kid Lewis in December 1912, losing by a third round knockout.
He suffered further defeats to American welterweight Harry Lewis in March 1913, and Nichol Simpson in September 1913 (in a catchweight contest) as well as defeats to Ike Pratt and Gunner Burrows.
Jack Harrison died in 1970, aged 82. A commemorative blue plaque was placed on his former home in West Street by the Rushden & District History Society.
