(As seen on HardcoreBoxing.net)
"The Boston Strong Boy"
John L. Sullivan
The reason boxing is a million dollar sport today
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Alden Chodash
Before John L. Sullivan appeared on the scene, boxing was an uncharacteristic, illegal, unprofessional, and unorganized game in America. Americans began boxing partly because boxing had become big in England. Boxing matches in America and England were contested under the London Prize Ring Rules created in 1838. The London Prize Ring Rules consisted of 29 rules, mostly different from the rules we fight under today. One obvious difference stated that "If a man is thrown or knocked down, the round is over". Also, in fights fought under the London Prize Ring Rules, they fought until a man had been knocked out or both were physically unable to continue, in other words no judges decisions. The most recent heavyweight champion was Paddy Ryan, a strong "fighter" who had never seen a prize ring in his life. While Ryan reigned as champion, there was a young, quick, ambitious, inhumanly strong up-and-comer by the name of John Lawrence Sullivan who was recently a popular figure in Massachusetts until impressive appearances versus John Donaldson, Steve Taylor, and perennial contender John Flood turned "The Boston Strong Boy" into a national star. The nation knew Sullivan was inevitably the next heavyweight champion but the question was when would he get his shot at Ryan. After hard work, the bout was finally set for February 7th 1882. The fight turned out to be a huge multi-national event. They came to see the royal coronation of a 23 year lord-like figure and they got exactly that, a nine-round demolition of a near opposite figure in a badly outclassed Paddy Ryan. Shortly after the legend building victory, Sullivan traveled to New Orleans and lived out a long celebration that consisted of many drinks and many illnesses. After a sparring session with former heavyweight claimant Jimmy Elliott, Sullivan was embarrassed in his victorious Madison Square Garden debut versus Tug Wilson who came to the Garden terribly intimidated and dropped to the canvas every time Sullivan came in punching distance. At the same time, overseas, a young talented middleweight Charlie Mitchell not only reigned as middleweight champion of England, but was thought of by Sullivan rival and Police Gazette (the Ring Magazine of the late 1800's) publisher, Richard K. Fox, as the man who posed the sternest test to the seemingly invincible champion. A match was made between Sullivan and Mitchell May 14th, 1883 at the Madison Square Garden venue. Sullivan predictably rushed at his opponent dropping him twice in the first frame. Then the unthinkable happened late in the first round. Charlie Mitchell connected with a quick countering left that dropped the champion for the first time in his career. Sullivan jumped to his feet nearly immediately though the fact that he was dropped miserably stayed with him for the remainder of his life. To his credit, Mitchell dropped Sullivan who claimed after the bout that he "didn't drink nothing all day" and was in "marvelous condition". Sullivan pounded mercifully into Mitchell in the second and third until the police stopped the fight to prevent a possible tragedy. About three months later, Richard K. Fox came to America with yet another imported challenge to Sullivan's unliftable crown. The challenger was Herbert A. Slade from New Zealand. A perfect fighting machine who weighed 236 pounds and stood at 6 feet and an inch. They were scheduled to box at Madison Square Garden. The champion at first was slightly intimidated by the impressive stature of Slade (John L. was roughly 5'9'') until two heavy punches put Slade on the deck. Slade made it to his feet to take another huge shot that knocked him out of the ring. An exhausted Slade valiantly climbed back into the ring to survive the round. Slade took two more trips to the canvas in the second but when Sullivan's attack put Slade down again in the third, the police stopped the slaughter. After the knockouts of Mitchell and Slade, Sullivan was at his peak and could "lick any son-of-a-bitch" in the world. In September of 1883, Sullivan began his "Knocking Out" tour in Baltimore. The champion would fight 154 men in four round bouts and if he were unable to knock out his adversary he would give up 1,000 dollars. Sullivan knocked out all 154. The tour ended in May of 1884 and a month later he was pitted up against rival Charlie Mitchell in a rematch. Sullivan was in no condition to defend his title and announced to the excited crowd that he was too ill to box. Amazingly, the crowd admired the fact that they at least saw the great John L. in person. That was an example of the unmatched popularity Sullivan had. Afterwards Sullivan recorded two knockouts over John Lafflin and Al Greenfield, although in the rematch with Greenfield, the Brit lasted the distance. Sullivan then rid former victim Paddy Ryan in a round at MSG before shockingly failing to knock out Jack Burke and Dominick McCaffrey. The unimpressive win over McCaffrey won Sullivan the Marquis of Queensbury heavyweight title (the Marquis of Queensbury rules are very similar to the rules we apply under today). After the McCaffrey contest, Sullivan's career appeared on the downslide due to drinking habits and lack of fitness. Then a year later, a young, flamboyant fighter Frankie Herald called out Sullivan and rejuvenated Sullivan's interest in boxing when Sullivan recorded an impressive second round knockout of Herald. Sullivan hadn't performed this well in years and then brought the same dynamic skills to San Francisco to once again demolish Paddy Ryan in three rounds. Then came another setback. Two consecutive draws against Duncan McDonald and Patsy Cardiff. Non-pugilist rival Richard K. Fox infuriated Sullivan and the City Of Boston by presenting the Police Gazette heavyweight championship belt to Jake Kilrain. In retaliation, Boston presented Sullivan with a belt that consisted of 250 diamonds. A match with Kilrain was inevitable. After that, Sullivan traveled to England in attempt to get fights with Jem Mace, England's champion or Charlie Mitchell, Sullivan's rival. During his trip, Sullivan met the prince of Wales and performed exhibitions in front of him but never got a chance to battle Mace or Mitchell. Fast forward to 1888 and Sullivan traveled to Chantilly, France to battle Charlie Mitchell under the London Prize Ring Rules. Sullivan constantly knocked down Mitchell but after 59 rounds both battlers were unable to fight on and the battle was ruled a draw. The depressed Sullivan had knocked down his opponent 38 times and was infuriated at the ruling. Then after a month had passed, Sullivan traveled back to America. By this time, Sullivan was grossly fat, and on his thirtieth birthday, he convinced himself that he was going to pass away and had himself transported to his father's house. Miraculously, Sullivan actually recovered on his trip there and three months later he signed to fight Jake Kilrain. Kilrain and his followers knew this was their big chance to dethrone the former invincible Sullivan and out of fear, Sullivan's manager, Charlie Johnston, hired William Muldoon to get Sullivan in championship shape. The bout was also to be fought under the London Prize Ring Rules and those rules required Sullivan to be ready for more than 50 rounds. Kilrain was a great wrestler and the rules they fought under allowed his talented wrestling tactics. William Muldoon, a great wrestler who pictured the human body as a "sacred temple" was exactly the type of the trainer the lazy, overweight Sullivan needed. Sullivan moved to Muldoon's farm where he jogged, trotted, or walked up to 10 miles a day. He sparred Mike Cleary, a talented heavyweight. He skipped rope. He hit the heavy bag. He lived off of a strict diet that barred his prodigious drinking. After one month, Sullivan became ill due to the lack of liquor. He overcame his illness to get in top shape, London Prize Rules Shape, and was ready to do damage. The fight was in held in Richburg, Mississippi July 8th, 1889. In the opening five seconds Kilrain threw Sullivan to the ground and the round was over (a reminder that a throw down counted the same as a knockdown under the London Prize Rules and automatically ended the round). Sullivan threw Kilrain to the canvas in retaliation in the second frame and dropped Kilrain with a hard right in the third. Kilrain drew first blood in the seventh with a right to the ear. By the twelfth round, Kilrain surprisingly was the first fighter to show signs of fatigue probably due to the tremendous bodywork of Sullivan. Later in the round Sullivan dropped Kilrain with a hard right. In the thirteenth Kilrain spiked Sullivan with his shoe and an infuriated Sullivan tore into Kilrain who was nearly out of it from the barrage. Sullivan, finally starting to show little signs of fatigue, slowed down his attack for a half dozen rounds. Rounds 20 through round 25 ended because the challenger was going down without being struck. Then Kilrain finally shown some signs of life in the twenty sixth when he threw Sullivan to the ground but after going down hard in the preceding round, the challenger reverted back to his survival tactics. In the thirty eighth round the referee even told Kilrain that he must "stand and fight". Kilrain refused to do as told but to his credit, he made Sullivan fight more rounds than he ever did in his whole career although Kilrain was outmatched. The sun was also a factor and Sullivan vomitted in the corner after forty-five rounds due to the sun. In the 68th round the fight was really decided if not ended. Kilrain was ready to make another un-struck fall when a terrific right uppercut literally lifted him of the canvas. Kilrain never recovered. After the 75th round, Donovan, fearing death for his fighter (Kilrain), threw in the sponge. Sullivan had retained his title once again. After the great battle, Sullivan failed to acknowledge Muldoon for his great work and Muldoon left him without a trainer that brought out the best. Then Sullivan, bigger than ever at this time, went on a theatrical tour in 1890. While Sullivan was performing well in the theatrical world, a young, ambitious fellow James J. Corbett had suddenly appeared on the scene. Corbett had already defeated Joe Choyinski (twice), Jake Kilrain, Dominick McCaffrey, and earned a hard fought draw with Peter Jackson, a black man who Sullivan refused to fight. After the theatrical play, Sullivan sparred with Corbett, went on a tour to Australia to get a match with Frank Slavin or Joe Goddard, two perennial heavyweight faces, and then went back to the theatrical world in 1891. Then in 1892, Sullivan finally gave Corbett a chance to win the heavyweight crown from the man who had worn it since 1882. The bout was fought under the Marquis of Queensbury rules and took place in New Orleans where prize fights were legal under the Marquis of Queensbury rules. Even without Muldoon, Sullivan was able to get in good, if not, perfect shape. In the opening rounds Corbett danced away and eluded everything Sullivan threw at him and he occasionally came back with light counter shots. In the seventh, Corbett started to connect with hard rights and lefts and earned respect for himself by both the champion and the crowd. In the eighth the Champion connected with his first hard punch of the fight, a right hand. Corbett took it well. In the 17th, Sullivan dropped Corbett with a hard right to the ear but by the end of the round, Sullivan was showing extreme fatigue. In the 21st, Corbett finally put an end to the long and legendary reign of John L. Sullivan. A combination of rights and lefts put Sullivan down for the ten count. Sullivan fought once more after the Corbett match. He went to Grand Rapids Michigan to take on rugged Jim McCormick. Sullivan may have been an underdog for the first time in his career riding on the fact that he was 46 and McCormick had recently registered a first round knockout of the great "Kid" McCoy. Sullivan and McCormick exchanged through the first until a tremendous right to the jaw in the second put McCormick down for the ten-count. It was a tremendous victory and it was unfortunate that it was the last bout of Sullivan's career.
On the morning of February 2nd 1918, Sullivan died of a heart attack. He lived a great, legendary life and had gained the respect of every man who ever stepped foot in the ring with him. And even his hated rival Charlie Mitchell admitted that he was sorry to see him go.