Separating exhibitions from prize fighting; Sullivan-Ryan 1885

[APerno]

It seems they were actually trying to separate boxing exhibitions from prize fights. It also seems obvious that Sullivan showed up believing it was an exhibition (with mustache intact) and Ryan tried to jump him.

[HomicideHenry]

The exhibition I'm most interested in from that time period was between Sullivan and then unknown Corbett.... According to JJ he knew from that point on that he could have beaten Sully in an actual contest.

[APerno]

The exhibition I'm most interested in from that time period was between Sullivan and then unknown Corbett.... According to JJ he knew from that point on that he could have beaten Sully in an actual contest.

Corbett and Sullivan fought that exhibition at the San Fancisco Opera House sometime after May 1891. (Can't find the exact date, yet; nor have I found any primary information, yet).

Corbett wasn't unknown at that moment (May 1891) he had already defeated Jake Kilrain (PTS 6) and had just gone 61 rounds with Peter Jackson.

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This is an excerpt from a 1987 magazine called Sports History, November 1987, Great Moments, Thomas Fleming, page 61.

"To commemorate his excellent showing - a draw with the formidable Jackson was no mean achievement - Corbett's supporters staged a benefit for him at San Francisco's Grand Opera House. Entirely by coincidence, Sullivan happened to be passing through the city on his way to Australia, and was duly invited to spar with the young contender.

At Sullivan's insistence, they danced about in evening clothes. The crowd booed and demanded their money back, but Corbett was satisfied. He confidently told a friend, "Sullivan is a sucker for a feint. I know I can beat him."

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I do not know how accurate Mr. Fleming's research was; there are no footnotes.

This was a great magazine, Sports History, to bad it only lasted a year and a half before it folded. I only have about half of the available issues; every issue covered at least one big fight.