Sullivan, John L.
Boxing
b. Oct. 15, 1858, Roxbury, MA
d. Feb. 2, 1918
"The Boston Strong Boy" had his first recorded fight in 1878, when he knocked out Cockey Woods in the 5th round. He became a genuine contender on January 3, 1881, with a 3rd-round knockout of Canadian heavyweight champion Jack Stewart.
Irish-born Paddy Ryan was generally considered the American champion. After Sullivan knocked Ryan out in the 9th round on February 7, 1881, he was acclaimed world champion. Sullivan capitalized on his fame by touring the country, giving exhibitions and offering $500 to any man who could last 3 rounds with him. No one ever did.
In many of his exhibitions, Sullivan wore gloves and demonstrated the Marquis of Queensbury rules. He won a 6-round decision over Dominick McCaffrey on August 29, 1885, to claim the Marquis of Queensbury championship.
Richard Kyle Fox, publisher of the National Police Gazette, disliked Sullivan and boosted Jake Kilrain as a contender. Sullivan finally agreed to meet Kilrain on July 8, 1889. He was badly out of shape from lack of training and real fighting and Kilrain appeared likely to win. After vomiting in the 44th round, however, Sullivan seemed to get his second wind. He battered Kilrain until the challenger's manager threw in the sponge as a symbol of defeat after 75 rounds.
That was the last bareknuckle championship fight. Sullivan's next defense, against Jim Corbett on September 7, 1892, was fought under the Queensbury Rules, which called for gloves and 3-minute rounds. (Under the old bareknuckle rules, a round ended whenever a fighter went down.) Corbett knocked Sullivan out in the 21st round to win the title.
Sullivan effectively retired from boxing after that fight, though he did stage exhibitions in 1896 and 1905. He made much more money as a performer than he did as a boxer. Sullivan appeared in several plays and a movie about his life, "The Great John L. Sullivan." Once known as a heavy drinker, he also gave temperance lectures during vaudeville tours in his later days.
He won 38 bouts, 33 by knockout; lost 1, by knockout; and fought 3 draws in addition to his many exhibitions.