John L. Sullivan vs. Savate practicioner

Newbie · Post by **Newbie** » 29 Jul 2002, 00:19

Have any of you ever heard the story about John L. Sullivan fighting a french Savate practicioner? If so, who won and how did the fight go? Can any of you tel me where I can find a written account of the fight?

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 22 Sep 2005, 00:33

Here's another unprobed mystery from years ago. Dredging it up for comment from fresh minds.

tiredoldngrey · Post by **tiredoldngrey** » 22 Sep 2005, 00:59

I have never heard this story involving John L.. I have however heard many versions of it but they all involved Tommy Burns. In some the savate guy kos burns with one kick despite being half his size. In others Burns catches him mid-flight and sends him into orbit. In both versions the savate guy appears to be much smaller than Burnsa who, at 5'7" and 170 pounds, was no behemoth.

Jaclem · Post by **Jaclem** » 22 Sep 2005, 01:57

..i've read accounts of a match with sullivan by one of those kicking guys...but never able to actually pin it down as to place and date.

in the movie "the great john l." there is a terrific depiction of such a fight.....a fancy french foot fighter making a fool of sullivan...for a while.

damn...now that this has come up again i'm going to have to hit the books to see what i can find....and i don't have time to keep digging into this stuff.

boxbuzz...yes....it does bring up a mystery from the past for comment from fresh minds. duh. isn't that a tad obvious? but i can't let you off that easily.....it's not an unprobed mystery. hell i'm one who has probed it and now i have to do it again.

BoxBuzz · Post by **BoxBuzz** » 22 Sep 2005, 10:07

Well some folks think the "interdiscipinary" stuff is brand new. I keep telling them there is nothing new under the sun. It's just that we now have videos to make it seem like everything just started happening 40 years ago.

enrique · Post by **enrique** » 22 Sep 2005, 11:16

The savate story is one scene in the "Great John L" a Hollywood flick of the thirties. A savate fighter that looks more like an effeminate ballet dancer kicks Sullivan a couple of times and then John L decks him. I have a copy of the film.

I have heard that same story attributed to a couple of other champions. It makes for a good yarn but might not be accurate.

The Great John L · Post by **The Great John L** » 22 Sep 2005, 11:21

From the book "The World Heavyweight Boxing Championship A History", by John D. McCallum. Discussing Jeff's European trip with his manager's (Billy Brady) friend Jack Barnes.

"Barnes took Jeffries to Paris, where a world’s champion was a distinct novelty. Jeff attracted tremendous crowds. Parisians were awed by his size and would tag along after him as he strode up the boulevards.

A theater manager suggested that Jeff fight the French champion, M. LaBlah, who fought la savate style. Jeff agreed. The champion also agreed to allow LaBlah to fight la savate, while he, Jeff would box under the regular rules. The American knew nothing of the French ring tactics.

The bout was billed as a world championship match. Seat prices soared. A capacity house turned out. Thousands more were turned away.

Physically, LaBlah was no match for the champion. Short and frail, the Frenchman weighed only 140 lbs. But he showed no fear. At the opening bell, Jeff assumed his natural crouch. The little challenger folded his arms, rose to his toes like a ballet dancer, and began to spring lightly around the ring.. Jeff tried a couple of feints with no response. Finally, he dropped his hands and laughed. Immediately, he bounded into the air and kicked Jeff in the left side of the face. His feet were covered in soft leather, fitting him as tightly as a glove. Jeff was plainly startled, and hurt. He set himself for the next assault, and when it came he caught the diminutive Frenchman on the rise with a smashing left hook on the chin. LaBlah sailed through the ropes with the greatest of ease. That was all. Te fight was over. Jim Jeffries was champion of France."

According to the author, this took place sometime after Jeff's KO of Jack Munroe in San Francisco in August of 1904.

I don't know if any of this is true, simply urban legend, or simply a great embelishment of the facts, but at least there is the name of an opponent, and some semblance of a setting.

And it doesn't address the John L v la savate contest, but JLS did travel to Europe and it does seem likely that he would have faced off against fighters in Europe in the same manner that he did in the US.