In Defense of...
Posted: 25 Sep 2006, 06:43
'The Great' John Lawrence Sullivan
-After just 2 amateur bouts turns professional
-1880 beats both Mike Donovan and American title holder Joe Goss in exhibition bouts [he knocked Goss out cold]. June 26th, Sullivan makes the announcement that he will take on all-comers and if anyone could beat him he would willingly pay $500 to the victor. Mind you, at the time, Sullivan had all but 4 professional bouts [excluding exhibitions].
-1882 defeats then American HW champion Paddy Ryan, under the London Prize Ring Rules
-1883 defeats English champion Charlie Mitchell. Sullivan also did boxing tours of England up until 1884, knocking out 79 men in exhibitions.
-1885 defeats Dominick McCaffry for the HW championship of America under the newly made Marquis of Queensbury rules. Later that year he knocked out former foe/champion Paddy Ryan in three rounds, also under Queensbury Rules.
-1887 to 1888 he did yet another tour of the British Isles knocking out 51 men, all exhibitions.
-1888 he again faces English champion Charlie Mitchell in what was billed as the HW CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, they fought with gloves, though was under London Prize Ring Rules. Was declared a draw after 39 rounds.
-1889 faces off with 'title claimant' Jake Kilrain in what was to be the last bare-knuckle championship fight in America. Sullivan won by KO after 75 grueling rounds. Kilrain [defeated Mitchell] prior to this bout.
-1892 loses to 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett by KO in the 21st round in what was billed as the HW CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, under the Queensbury rules.
Record: 38-1-3 (33) [Queensbury Rules fights]
with 175+ exhibitions in his entire career
estimated KO's [exhibitions included] 200
Most Important Wins and Opponents:
Joe Goss, Paddy Ryan, Charlie Mitchell, Mike Donovan, Dominick McCaffry, Jake Kilrain, Joe Choynski, Steve Taylor, Jimmy Elliott, Herbert Slade.
************************************************************
'Gentleman' Jim Corbett
1889- Joe Choynski (3x's) 2 wins, 1 NC
"Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey [exhibitions]
Dominick McCaffry W4 [1890]
Peter Jackson D61 [1891]
Charlie Mitchell KO3 [1894]
Corbett was an amateur 1883 to 1888 winning MW and HW titles at the Olympic Club as well as the Golden Gloves and Seven Silver Cups on the Pacific Coast. Mike Cleary, a noted pugilist, said that the young Corbett 'got away' from a right hand punch better than anyone he ever seen.
1896- Landed 100 blows to 6 in a single round [exhibition]*
November 11th, 1896 retires only to return, presents his title to Peter Maher and names him as his 'successor'.
*only posted this interesting tid bit of information to 'show case' Corbett's amazing hand speed for the time period. A few old timers, who had seen Corbett fight, were interviewed in the 1960's asking whether they thought Clay was faster than Corbett, all said no.
************************************************************
Now review the dates and the information provided, and you can see that John L. Sullivan truly does deserve recognition as THE first champion under the Queensbury Rules, as he defeated ALL title claimers as well as champion Charlie Mitchell of England, long before Corbett ever did, differing rules or not.
-After just 2 amateur bouts turns professional
-1880 beats both Mike Donovan and American title holder Joe Goss in exhibition bouts [he knocked Goss out cold]. June 26th, Sullivan makes the announcement that he will take on all-comers and if anyone could beat him he would willingly pay $500 to the victor. Mind you, at the time, Sullivan had all but 4 professional bouts [excluding exhibitions].
-1882 defeats then American HW champion Paddy Ryan, under the London Prize Ring Rules
-1883 defeats English champion Charlie Mitchell. Sullivan also did boxing tours of England up until 1884, knocking out 79 men in exhibitions.
-1885 defeats Dominick McCaffry for the HW championship of America under the newly made Marquis of Queensbury rules. Later that year he knocked out former foe/champion Paddy Ryan in three rounds, also under Queensbury Rules.
-1887 to 1888 he did yet another tour of the British Isles knocking out 51 men, all exhibitions.
-1888 he again faces English champion Charlie Mitchell in what was billed as the HW CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, they fought with gloves, though was under London Prize Ring Rules. Was declared a draw after 39 rounds.
-1889 faces off with 'title claimant' Jake Kilrain in what was to be the last bare-knuckle championship fight in America. Sullivan won by KO after 75 grueling rounds. Kilrain [defeated Mitchell] prior to this bout.
-1892 loses to 'Gentleman' Jim Corbett by KO in the 21st round in what was billed as the HW CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE WORLD, under the Queensbury rules.
Record: 38-1-3 (33) [Queensbury Rules fights]
with 175+ exhibitions in his entire career
estimated KO's [exhibitions included] 200
Most Important Wins and Opponents:
Joe Goss, Paddy Ryan, Charlie Mitchell, Mike Donovan, Dominick McCaffry, Jake Kilrain, Joe Choynski, Steve Taylor, Jimmy Elliott, Herbert Slade.
************************************************************
'Gentleman' Jim Corbett
1889- Joe Choynski (3x's) 2 wins, 1 NC
"Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey [exhibitions]
Dominick McCaffry W4 [1890]
Peter Jackson D61 [1891]
Charlie Mitchell KO3 [1894]
Corbett was an amateur 1883 to 1888 winning MW and HW titles at the Olympic Club as well as the Golden Gloves and Seven Silver Cups on the Pacific Coast. Mike Cleary, a noted pugilist, said that the young Corbett 'got away' from a right hand punch better than anyone he ever seen.
1896- Landed 100 blows to 6 in a single round [exhibition]*
November 11th, 1896 retires only to return, presents his title to Peter Maher and names him as his 'successor'.
*only posted this interesting tid bit of information to 'show case' Corbett's amazing hand speed for the time period. A few old timers, who had seen Corbett fight, were interviewed in the 1960's asking whether they thought Clay was faster than Corbett, all said no.
************************************************************
Now review the dates and the information provided, and you can see that John L. Sullivan truly does deserve recognition as THE first champion under the Queensbury Rules, as he defeated ALL title claimers as well as champion Charlie Mitchell of England, long before Corbett ever did, differing rules or not.