After all these years people talk up the greatness of Corbett, and we see John L. Sullivan as he was the day prior to their fight. An old, balding, fat man. And it still took Corbett 21 rounds to put him away.
John L. Sullivan was only 34 years old in 1892.(born October 1858).
He may have been fat then and (not so young),
but the real question is ,
did Jawnell ever go bald?
Heavyweight champion Max Baer had been voted as having the best right hand of a heavyweight fighter
for the first half of the 20th Century.
contender Earnie Shavers was voted best right hand of the second part of the 20th Century.
But what heavyweight fighter had the second best right hand behind Sullivan 1850-1900?
Brutu wrote:Heavyweight champion Max Baer had been voted as having the best right hand of a heavyweight fighter
for the first half of the 20th Century.
contender Earnie Shavers was voted best right hand of the second part of the 20th Century.
But what heavyweight fighter had the second best right hand behind Sullivan 1850-1900?
I would guess that honor could go to either Peter Jackson, or it could go to this one Irish heavyweight whose name escapes me for the moment who was often described as the 'Jeffries of the 1800s'
it would be interesting if there was a database that listed which punch it was that was recorded as being used to hurt,knockdown or knock-out an opponent.
How good was Sullivan's left?
Did he even use a hook?
Brutu wrote:it would be interesting if there was a database that listed which punch it was that was recorded as being used to hurt,knockdown or knock-out an opponent.
How good was Sullivan's left?
Did he even use a hook?
Sullivan was known to feint punches, and then counter with hooks. It was his right hand, though, that was considered the bomb of the two.
^^^Ned O'Baldwin was arguably the hardest hitter in the pre-Sullivan days of bareknuckle boxing, he was to fight Jem Mace twice but both fights didnt take place due to police interference, there are several articles listed on that thread of O'Baldwin's career and prowess.
^^^NEW YORK TIMES articles about O'Baldwin, the first two concerning a bar room brawl between the Irishman and some other man which lead to O'Baldwin's arrest, the last article is a newspaper account detailing O'Baldwin offering any man in the world $2,000 to fight him and Tom Allen accepted the fight.
What is ironic is that in later years Jim Jeffries would claim that throughout his career the old-timers would tell him that his combination of size and speed reminded them of Ned O'Baldwin.
I did post the link in the forum. CURRENT is where its at. Since it was released here recently, it fits more into present times, though it happened last year.
After all these years people talk up the greatness of Corbett, and we see John L. Sullivan as he was the day prior to their fight. An old, balding, fat man. And it still took Corbett 21 rounds to put him away.
You wouldn't believe this but "Gypsy Jem Mace" by Jeremy Poolman has that picture in full in it and the notation says
"Tom Allen and Jem Mace in a publicity still from the big fight. The gloves were for sparring only."
What is ironic is that in later years Jim Jeffries would claim that throughout his career the old-timers would tell him that his combination of size and speed reminded them of Ned O'Baldwin.
When did Jeffries make that claim? Do you have a source?