THE rise and fall of Jackie Paterson is one of Scottish boxing’s most captivating yet tragic tales.

Without question, the Springside man was the most popular draw in Scottish boxing history where tens of thousands clamoured to see the heavy-handed wee man win and defend world, European, British and Commonwealth (British Empire) flyweight titles.

Despite being born in Ayrshire, Paterson and his family emigrated to Scranton, Pennsylvania aged eight before returning to Scotland in his early teens. He laced up the gloves for the first time on his return to Scotland at 13, boxing amateur for Glasgow’s Anderston Club.

Paterson made his professional bow in on May 27, 1938 defeating Joe Kiely on points in Greenock aged 17.

The diminutive southpaw quickly built a reputation for his lethal power in both hands. It would be Paterson’s ferocious left hook that would be his weapon of choice for years to come.

In his 19th fight, Paterson captured the British title – vacated by the great Benny Lynch – knocking out Paddy Ryan in the 13th round in Glasgow on September 30, 1939.

The outbreak of World War II didn't stop Paterson from fighting as he boxed regularly despite joining the RAF.

A Commonwealth belt followed six months from his British title win when Paterson beat Richie Kid Tanner on points in Manchester.

Between June 1940 and June 1943, Paterson fought and defended his titles up and down the UK notching up 24 wins and only two losses in that time – and fighting roughly once a month.

His momentum earned him a crack at the world flyweight title in June 1943 held by Englishman Peter Kane – a fellow RAF serviceman.

The bout was one of the most highly-anticipated in Scottish boxing history and over 50,000 people flocked to Hampden Park for the mouth-watering Auld Enemy clash.

Paterson and Kane slugged it out from the opening bell in front of the frenzied Glasgow crowd. But it was Paterson who inflicted the most punishment, stopping Kane 61 seconds into the first round.

Paterson became the first southpaw to win the world flyweight crown.

Although Paterson’s ascension to the top seems straightforward, the Ayrshire man’s biggest battle came on the scales. He was broadly built for a flyweight and frequently struggled to make the eight stone limit.

The move up to bantamweight seemed to suit Paterson, winning Commonwealth and British honours in September 1945 and March 1946 respectively.

At this point in his career, Paterson was recognised across the globe as the world, Commonwealth and British title at flyweight along with holding the Commonwealth and European straps at bantamweight – a feat almost unrivalled nearly 70 years later.

But sadly for Paterson, the only way was down from that all-time high.

In July 1947, he was stripped of his world flyweight crown after collapsing at the weigh-in for his scheduled defence against American Dado Marino.

The collapse was due to his over-strenuous efforts to make weight and instead Northern Irishman Rinty Monaghan – who Paterson beat in his second fight – defeated Marino for the title.

A weak and dehydrated Paterson faced Monaghan in March 1948 to regain his title but was soundly beaten over seven rounds. After that fight, Paterson lost nine of his last 12 fights and retired in 1951.

His fantastic 13-year pro career earned him around £100,000 but he gambled most of it on greyhound racing.

Much like the aforementioned Lynch, Paterson died in tragic circumstances.

Although the true facts of his death are unclear, Paterson was said to have been stabbed to death with a bottle outside a bar in Natal, South Africa on November 16, 1966 having emigrated to the country the year before. He was 46.

A battle-hardened warrior and a masterful boxer, Jackie Paterson is rightfully recognised not only one of Scotland’s but one of Britain’s finest ever fighters.