St. Thomas natives and brothers John and Julius Jackson are going for gold in Beijing where they are currently competing side-by-side in the 2008 Olympic Games boxing competition. A total of 286 boxers will face off in the competition, which began on August 9 and will last until August 24.
The Jackson brothers are affiliated with the Boxing Federation of the U.S. Virgin Islands, located in the Paul M. Pearson Housing Community, a temporary training facility in St. Thomas. Julius qualified for the Olympic trials in Guatemala in April, weighing in at 81 kg. His younger brother John, who weighs in at 69 kg, qualified for the Olympic trials in Trinidad in February. This is the first time both brothers have been eligible for the Olympics.
Boxing is a family affair for the Jacksons. John and Julius’ father, Julian Jackson, nicknamed “The Hawk,” is a former professional boxer from the USVI, and three-time world champion of the middle weight and junior middle weight divisions. He has continued his involvement in the local boxing field as a trainer and coach.
Before arriving in Beijing for the start of the boxing competition on Saturday, the Jackson brothers and their former champion father attended a two-week camp in Seoul, Korea in order to acclimate themselves to the 12-hour time difference and climate, similar to nearby Beijing.
The boxing competitions are currently underway, with John Jackson gaining a 4-2 win over Mahamad Nirudzinau of Belarus in this week’s earlier match-up.
For more information about the United States Virgin Islands, visit usvitourism.vi. When traveling to the U.S. Virgin Islands, U.S. citizens enjoy all the conveniences of domestic travel – including on-line check-in – making travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands easier than ever. As a United States Territory, travel to the U.S. Virgin Islands does not require a passport from U.S. citizens arriving from Puerto Rico or the U.S. mainland. Entry requirements for non-U.S. citizens are the same as for entering the United States from any foreign destination. Upon departure, a passport is required for all but U.S. citizens.
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Contacts:
Carolyn A. Wattley,
340-227-3159
or
M Booth & Associates
Yale
Frederiksen/Josie Kals, 212-481-7000
usviteam@mbooth.com
