John L. Sullivan vs. William Fleming

John L Sullivan beat William Fleming by KO in round 1 of 4

• Date: 1884-05-01
• Location: Memphis, Tennessee, USA

This bout was part of world champion Sullivan's tour of the United States offering money to anyone who could last four rounds against him. Fleming was a Memphis bricklayer, inexperienced as a boxer, but known locally as a rough fellow and accepted Sullivan's challenge for the prize of one thousand dollars. Fleming was allegedly drunk on fight night. Sullivan knocked him out with his first right hand punch, landed to the jaw. Fleming went completely unconscious and Sullivan later claimed this bout, lasting just two seconds, to be his quickest knockout.