John L. Sullivan: No Racist!
Posted: 28 Feb 2007, 01:19
There is often the comments that John L. Sullivan refused to fight any black men or defend his title against any black man. While it is true that he never did fight a black man in his entire career, its not true that he refused black men right left and center.
Many often say that Sullivan hated black men, and was quoted as saying that the white race was a superior one and that he would 'never fight a person or a foreigner'.
This statement, in my mind, irrefustably has to be the work of an over zealous newspaper writer, or someone close to Sullivan taking his words out of context. I say this because of the following reasons:
-The Irish who immigrated to America were often the subject of much ridicule and abuse
One of the more popular sayings of the day were that 'an Irishman is a person turned inside out' or 'if an Irishman kills a person, hang the Irishman'. Sullivan, whose parents were full blooded Irish, would have surely have witnessed all this racial hatred, even possibly being the subject of racial tension himself.
Mind you, many Irish were often refused entry into many restraunts, as were blacks, and were told at many a business 'No Irish Allowed'. Many of the Irish were doing 'slave labor' just to get by being paid just peanuts (figure of speech) for months of work that was back breaking. Its a fact that the Irish, Orientals and Latinos built the railroad system virtually without pay or food.
-Sullivan had been given offers three times to fight George Godfrey, who was possibly the second best black fighter in the world. The first offer was a 'fight to the finish' and police intervened before the contest started, the second time Sullivan did refuse to fight Godfrey, and the third time Sullivan asked Godfrey to a fight and Godfrey turned it down saying he would need more time to train.
It must be also noted that Sullivan couldnt have been too racist because he refereed two of Godfrey's bouts for his 'Coloured Heavyweight' title.
The only african fighter, of note, that Sullivan possibly did turn down for fear of losing or maybe even fearful of losing his status as a celebrity if he did fight a black man of such ability, was 'The Black Prince' Peter Jackson. Jackson had defeated such men as Steve O'Donnell, Patsy Cardiff, Professor William Miller, Peter Maher and who would go on to win the British Commonwealth title as well as the 'Coloured Heavyweight' title and was already the champion of Australia.
Many in the years to come would say Jackson was the equal of Jack Johnson, if not the early 20th century version of Muhammad Ali. Jack Dempsey put Jackson in his list of the greatest fighters of all time, as have many others. He was quite possibly the greatest of the bare knuckle and early gloved era, John L. Sullivan and Jem Mace not withstanding.
There might be some truth, though, when it comes to foreigners. Sullivan was greatly patriotic, even though he was Irish and more than likley faced some form of racism towards himself. Sullivan did want to fight Godfrey who was an African American, but not Jackson, who was from Australia. Sullivan, when he did tours in the UK, did all exhibitions--though he did try to get a fight with Jem Mace, and had fought with Charlie Mitchell and Herbert Slade in the past---though both men would fight mainly in the USA.
When Sullivan lost to Jim Corbett he was quoted as saying 'At least a fellow American won the title over me.'
-Sullivan was the first to congratulate Jack Johnson on beating Jefferies.
While it is true there was a sort of rivalry between Sullivan and Corbett over who would train Jefferies in his comeback fight against Johnson, it was Sullivan who was the first man to congratulate Johnson, and Sullivan was possibly the only man there in Reno, if not the entire country (least white folks) who gave Johnson any credit or treated him with any respect at all. Hardly a racist attitude. Alos it must be mentioned when Willard finally beaten Johnson, Sullivan must have been so shocked by the 6'6'' Willard beating the seemingly invincible Jack Johnson that he said Willard was the 'champion of champions', because he didn't believe Johnson could be beaten.
Conclusion? Whether you like the old timers or not, whether you think Sullivan was a great fighter or not, all evidence here insists that Sullivan, though being quite the boastful braggart that he was and could be one helluva hard bastard when he wanted to be, bared no malice towards black men.
As far as Jackson goes, all fighters, no matter who they are, have that one guy they didnt fight, for whatever reason it may be. Maybe Sullivan did duck him, but Sullivan virtually fought every single big name that they could throw at him. But the same case could be made for Joe Louis not fighting Elmer Ray or Turkey Thompson, or Lewis for not fighting Bowe, or hell Tyson for not fighting Bowe, Mercer at all or Lewis when both were in their primes.
Sullivan for all intents and purposes I think would have fought black men...they just had to be American.
Many often say that Sullivan hated black men, and was quoted as saying that the white race was a superior one and that he would 'never fight a person or a foreigner'.
This statement, in my mind, irrefustably has to be the work of an over zealous newspaper writer, or someone close to Sullivan taking his words out of context. I say this because of the following reasons:
-The Irish who immigrated to America were often the subject of much ridicule and abuse
One of the more popular sayings of the day were that 'an Irishman is a person turned inside out' or 'if an Irishman kills a person, hang the Irishman'. Sullivan, whose parents were full blooded Irish, would have surely have witnessed all this racial hatred, even possibly being the subject of racial tension himself.
Mind you, many Irish were often refused entry into many restraunts, as were blacks, and were told at many a business 'No Irish Allowed'. Many of the Irish were doing 'slave labor' just to get by being paid just peanuts (figure of speech) for months of work that was back breaking. Its a fact that the Irish, Orientals and Latinos built the railroad system virtually without pay or food.
-Sullivan had been given offers three times to fight George Godfrey, who was possibly the second best black fighter in the world. The first offer was a 'fight to the finish' and police intervened before the contest started, the second time Sullivan did refuse to fight Godfrey, and the third time Sullivan asked Godfrey to a fight and Godfrey turned it down saying he would need more time to train.
It must be also noted that Sullivan couldnt have been too racist because he refereed two of Godfrey's bouts for his 'Coloured Heavyweight' title.
The only african fighter, of note, that Sullivan possibly did turn down for fear of losing or maybe even fearful of losing his status as a celebrity if he did fight a black man of such ability, was 'The Black Prince' Peter Jackson. Jackson had defeated such men as Steve O'Donnell, Patsy Cardiff, Professor William Miller, Peter Maher and who would go on to win the British Commonwealth title as well as the 'Coloured Heavyweight' title and was already the champion of Australia.
Many in the years to come would say Jackson was the equal of Jack Johnson, if not the early 20th century version of Muhammad Ali. Jack Dempsey put Jackson in his list of the greatest fighters of all time, as have many others. He was quite possibly the greatest of the bare knuckle and early gloved era, John L. Sullivan and Jem Mace not withstanding.
There might be some truth, though, when it comes to foreigners. Sullivan was greatly patriotic, even though he was Irish and more than likley faced some form of racism towards himself. Sullivan did want to fight Godfrey who was an African American, but not Jackson, who was from Australia. Sullivan, when he did tours in the UK, did all exhibitions--though he did try to get a fight with Jem Mace, and had fought with Charlie Mitchell and Herbert Slade in the past---though both men would fight mainly in the USA.
When Sullivan lost to Jim Corbett he was quoted as saying 'At least a fellow American won the title over me.'
-Sullivan was the first to congratulate Jack Johnson on beating Jefferies.
While it is true there was a sort of rivalry between Sullivan and Corbett over who would train Jefferies in his comeback fight against Johnson, it was Sullivan who was the first man to congratulate Johnson, and Sullivan was possibly the only man there in Reno, if not the entire country (least white folks) who gave Johnson any credit or treated him with any respect at all. Hardly a racist attitude. Alos it must be mentioned when Willard finally beaten Johnson, Sullivan must have been so shocked by the 6'6'' Willard beating the seemingly invincible Jack Johnson that he said Willard was the 'champion of champions', because he didn't believe Johnson could be beaten.
Conclusion? Whether you like the old timers or not, whether you think Sullivan was a great fighter or not, all evidence here insists that Sullivan, though being quite the boastful braggart that he was and could be one helluva hard bastard when he wanted to be, bared no malice towards black men.
As far as Jackson goes, all fighters, no matter who they are, have that one guy they didnt fight, for whatever reason it may be. Maybe Sullivan did duck him, but Sullivan virtually fought every single big name that they could throw at him. But the same case could be made for Joe Louis not fighting Elmer Ray or Turkey Thompson, or Lewis for not fighting Bowe, or hell Tyson for not fighting Bowe, Mercer at all or Lewis when both were in their primes.
Sullivan for all intents and purposes I think would have fought black men...they just had to be American.
