John L. Sullivan vs. Jimmy Elliot

John L Sullivan beat Jimmy Elliot by KO at 1:30 in round 4 of 4

• Date: 1882-07-04
• Location: Brooklyn, New York, USA

Elliott was a former claimant to America's bare knuckle heavyweight championship, while Sullivan, having beaten Paddy Ryan the previous February, was the reinging champ. By this time Elliott was suffering from severe vision problems due to complications from an eye operation years earlier. Despite being nearly forty years old, he challenged Sullivan because he needed the money. He hounded Sullivan, who intiially refused to meet Elliott because the money wasn't right, in the press for months.

Sullivan offered Elliott five hundred dollars if he could last four rounds against him in a four round exhibition, which both men agreed would be a real fight. The fight took place on a rainy Fourth of July before five thousand onlookers.Johnny Roche was Elliott's second, Billy Madden was Sullivan's. Mike Cleary served as referee.

At no point did Elliott establish himself in the fight. He was floored twice in the opening round and once at the close of the second. At the opening of the third, a blow to the throat put Elliott down for the count. Because he had not lasted the complete four rounds, Elliott did not win the five hundred dollars, but Sullivan did give him fifty.