John L. Sullivan
|
|
Sullivan was a boxing immortal, the link between bare knuckles and glove fighting, and the first great American sports idol. He was powerful, quick, could hit with either hand but had exceptional strength in his right, and could take punishment; He is considered still by some to be one of the best heavyweights ever. Sullivan was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
BORN : October 15 1858; Roxbury, Boston, MA DIED : February 2 1918; Abingdon, MA HEIGHT : 5-10 1/4 (Some report 5-10 1/2) WEIGHT : 190-229 lbs RACE : White; Irish-American MANAGERS : Billy Madden, Al Smith, Frank Moran, Pat Sheedy, Harry Phillips, Charles E. "Parson" Davies, Ed Holske, Jimmy Wakely, Frank Hall, and Arthur T. Lumley, and possibly William Muldoon at times
NON-PROFESSIONAL BOUTS 1877-1878 Jack Scannell Boston, Ma KO 1 Ramon Guiteras Boston, Ma D 4 PROFESSIONAL BOUTS 1879 Dan Dwyer Boston, Ma TK 3 Tommy Chandler Boston, Ma W 4 John A. "Patsy" Hogan Boston, Ma W 4 -Hogan knocked Sullivan down Mar 14 John "Cocky" Woods Boston, Ma TK 5 1880 Jan 5 John A. "Patsy" Hogan Boston, Ma SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Feb Mike Donovan Boston, Ma EX 4 Mar Jerry Murphy New York, NY EX Apr 6 Joe Goss Boston, Ma EX 3 -Sullivan dominated the bout Jun 26 -Sullivan announced he would fight anyone in America, with or without gloves, for $500 Jun 28 George Rooke Boston, Ma KO 2 Dan Dwyer EX -Sullivan and Dwyer boxed several exhibitions Nov Johnny Kenny New York, NY EX Dec 20 John Donaldson Cincinnati, Oh EX 4 Dec 24 John Donaldson Cincinnati, Oh (21:00) KO 10 -Hard gloves and London Prize Ring Rules Dec 27 -Sullivan and Donaldson were arrested for prizefighting; They were released two days later 1881 Jan 3 Jack Stewart Boston, Ma TK 2 -Stewart was the Canadian Champion Jan 3 Joe Goss Boston, Ma EX 3 Jan Jack Stewart Boston, Ma EX Mar 21 Mike Donovan Boston, Ma EX 3 Mar 31 Steve Taylor New York, NY W 2 -Sullivan knocked down Taylor four times May 16 John Flood Yonkers, NY (16:00) W 8 -London Rules and gloves were used for this bout; This bout was held on a barge Jun 13 John Flood New York, NY EX 3 Jul 11 Fred Crossley Philadelphia, Pa KO 1 -Crossley weighed 300 lbs Jul 11 Billy Madden Philadelphia, Pa EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Jul 21 Dan McCarty Philadelphia, Pa (0:30) KO 1 Aug 12 "Captain" James Dalton Chicago, Il KO 4 -Sullivan broke his hand Sep 3 "Captain" James Dalton Chicago, Il W 4 Sep 3 Jack Burns Chicago, Il KO 1 -Burns was 6-6 1/2, 300 lbs Sep George Godfrey Boston, Ma -Both men were stripped for a fight to the finish; Sullivan then said he would not fight Godfrey Sep -Sullivan got into a street fight with a local bully at Mount Clemens, Mi and knocked the man out Oct Bob Farrell EX Oct Steve Taylor New York, NY EX 3 Nov 5 Billy Madden New York, NY EX Nov Pete McCoy Buffalo, NY EX Nov 29 Billy Madden Cincinnati, Oh EX Nov 29 Pete McCoy Cincinnati, Oh EX 1882 Feb 7 Paddy Ryan Mississippi City, Ms W 9 -Heavyweight Championship of America; London Prize Ring Rules were used; Time : 10:30 Mar 27 Jack Douglas New York, NY EX 3 Mar 27 Billy Madden New York, NY EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Mar 28 Steve Taylor Jersey City, NJ EX 3 Apr 20 John McDermott Rochester, NY TK 3 Jul 4 Jimmy Elliott Brooklyn, NY (7:00) KO 3 -Gloves were used for this bout; Weights: 195 - 185 Jul 17 Joe "Tug" Wilson New York, NY W 4 -Wilson went to the floor 24 times during the bout to avoid being knocked out Aug 19 Joe Goss North Adams, Ma EX Joe ""Tug" Wilson -This bout was scheduled but not held; Authorities prevented it Sep 23 Henry Higgins Buffalo, NY TK 3 Oct 16 S.P. Stockton Fort Wayne, In KO 2 Oct 30 Charley O'Donnell Chicago, Il KO 1 Nov 16 an unnamed opponent Buffalo, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Nov 17 P.J. Rentzler Washington, DC TK 2 -Police intervened Nov 19 an unnamed opponent Pittsburgh, Pa SCH Nov an unnamed opponent Cincinnati, Oh SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled; The outcomes are not known Dec 28 Joe Coburn New York, NY EX 3 1883 Jan 25 Harry Gilmore Toronto, Ont, Can KO 3 Jan 29 Joe Coburn Troy, NY EX 3 Feb 22 Pete McCoy Boston, Ma EX 3 Mar 19 Steve Taylor Boston, Ma EX 3 Mar 19 Joe Coburn Boston, Ma EX 3 Mar 19 Mike Cleary Boston, Ma EX 3 May 14 Charley Mitchell New York, NY TK 3 -Mitchell knocked Sullivan down in the first round; The bout was stopped by Police Captain "Clubber" Williams May 15 Charley Mitchell Long Island, NY -This bout was proposed by Joe Coburn as a bare-knuckle fight to the finish; Mitchell accepted but Sullivan did not; The bout fell through May 28 -Sullivan pitched for a semi-professional baseball team at the New York, NY Polo Grounds Aug 6 Herbert A. Slade New York, NY TK 3 -Gloves were used; Weights: 205 - 201 Sep -Sullivan fought some 50 minor opponents across America and reportedly knocked out all of them; This tour took place during Aug-Oct 1883 Oct 17 James McCoy McKeesport, Pa TK 1 Nov 3 Jim Miles East St. Louis, Il TK 1 Nov 25 Morris Hefey St. Paul, Mn KO 1 Dec 4 Mike Sheehan Davenport, Ia TK 1 1883-1884 -Sullivan continued his tour during late 1883 and early 1884; He reportedly knocked out 29 men 1884 Jeff Tomkins Butte, Mt KO 1 Boiquet Victoria, BC, Can KO 1 Jan 14 Fred Robinson Butte City, Mt TK 2 Feb 1 Sylvester Le Gouriff Astoria, Or KO 1 Feb 6 James Lang Seattle, Wa KO 1 Mar 6 George M. Robinson San Francisco, Ca W 4 -Robinson went down 28 times to avoid being knocked out Jack Traynor Dallas, Tx KO -This was a "barroom" fight Apr 10 Al Marx Galveston, Tx (1:55) KO 1 Apr 12 Pete McCoy New Orleans, La EX 2 Apr 28 William Fleming Memphis, Tn KO 1 Apr 29 Dan Henry Hot Springs, Ar KO 1 May 2 Enos Phillips Nashville, Tn W 4 May 30 Charley Mitchell New York, NY -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Sullivan was drunk and unable to fight Aug 13 Dominick McCaffrey Boston, Ma EX 3 Aug 13 Steve Taylor Boston, Ma EX 3 Aug 13 Tom Denny Boston, Ma EX 3 -The previous 3 bouts were held the same date as part of Councilman Tom Denny's Exhibition Oct 18 an unnamed opponent McKeesport, Pa EX -Sullivan knocked out his opponent Oct 19 an unnamed opponent Alleghany, Pa EX Oct 20 an unnamed opponent Alleghany, Pa EX Oct 20 an unnamed opponent Alleghany, Pa EX -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Oct an unnamed opponent Wheeling, WV SCH Oct an unnamed opponent Steubenville, Oh SCH Oct an unnamed opponent Newark, NJ SCH Oct an unnamed opponent Columbus, Oh SCH Oct an unnamed opponent Dayton, Oh SCH -The previous 5 bouts were scheduled exhibitions; The outcomes are not known Oct 28 an unnamed opponent Cincinnati, Oh EX Oct 29 an unnamed opponent Louisville, Ky SCH Oct 30 an unnamed opponent Indianapolis, In SCH Oct 31 an unnamed opponent Terre Haute, In SCH -The previous 3 bouts were scheduled exhibitions; The outcomes are not known Nov 10 John M. Laflin New York, NY (7:00) W 4 -Weights: 196 - 205 Nov 17 Alf Greenfield New York, NY (6:15) W 2 -Police intervened; Weights: 198 1/2 - 160 1885 Jan 12 Alf Greenfield Boston, Ma (12:00) W 4 -Gloves were used for this bout Jan 19 Paddy Ryan New York, NY (0:50) TK 1 -Police intervened Apr 2 Dominick McCaffrey Philadelphia, Pa -This bout was scheduled but not held; Police prevented the bout Jun 13 Jack Burke Chicago, Il (15:00) W 5 -Queensberry Rules were used for this bout Aug 29 Dominick McCaffrey Cincinnati, Oh (22:00) W 6 -Heavyweight Championship of America; Queensberry Rules and gloves were used for this bout; Seven rounds were fought; The referee gave decison days after fight 1886 Billy Madden New York, NY EX -Sullivan and Madden gave exhibitions for one week Sep 18 Frank Herald Alleghany City, Pa W 2 -Queensberry Rules and gloves were used for this bout; Police intervened; Weights: 225 - 185 Oct 31 Steve Taylor St. Paul, Mn EX Nov 13 Paddy Ryan San Francisco, Ca KO 3 -Gloves were used for this bout Dec Steve Taylor Tacoma, Wa EX 3 Dec 28 Duncan McDonald Denver, Co D 4 1887 Jan Steve Taylor EX Jan 18 Patsy Cardiff Minneapolis, Mn D 6 -Sullivan broke a bone in his right arm; Weights: 229 - 185 Mar 28 Steve Taylor Hoboken, NJ EX 4 Mar 28 Joe Lannon Hoboken, NJ EX 4 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date Nov 28 Jack Ashton London, Eng EX 3 Dec 9 Jack Ashton London, Eng EX 3 1887-1888 -Sullivan boxed 51 exhibitions in England 1888 Jan -Sullivan gave boxing exhibitions in Portsmouth, Eng George Fryer Nottingham, Eng EX Mar 10 Charley Mitchell Chantilly, Fr (3:10:55) D 39 -Some sources report this as a Heavyweight Championship of the World contest; London Rules and bare-knuckles were used for this bout; Sullivan scored the first knockdown; Mitchell drew first blood in the eighth round; Weights: 166 - 200 May 15 an unnamed opponent Boston, Ma EX Jun 4 an unnamed opponent New York, NY EX 1889 May 6 Jack Ashton Tarrytown, NY EX Apr 24 Jack Ashton Brooklyn, NY EX 3 May 28 Billy Madden Cincinnati, Oh EX May Mike Cleary Gloucester, NJ EX 3 Jul 8 Jake Kilrain Richburg, Ms (2:16:23) KO 75 -Heavyweight Championship of the America; London Rules and bare-knuckles were used Aug 2 Bill Muldoon New York, NY SCH -This bout was a scheduled wrestling match Aug 2 Mike Cleary New York, NY SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled as part of a Benefit for Sullivan; The outcomes are not known Sep 9 Mike Cleary New York, NY EX 3 1890 Feb 7 Joe Lannon Newark, NJ EX 3 Feb 12 Joe Lannon Hoboken, NJ EX 3 Dec 16 Joe Lannon New York, NY EX 3 Dec 16 Joe Lannon New York, NY EX 3 -The previous 2 bouts were held the same date 1891 Jun 26 Jim Corbett San Francisco, Ca EX 4 Jul -Sullivan toured Hawaii and Australia but did not have any official bouts; He possibly had some exhibitions with Jack Ashton Nov 26 Paddy Ryan San Francisco, Ca EX Dec 20 Joe Choynski San Francisco, Ca EX 3 1892 May 29 Jack Ashton New York, NY EX 3 Aug 29 Jack Ashton Brooklyn, NY EX 3 Aug 29 Leonard Tracy Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known; The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date Aug 29 Joe Lannon Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was later scheduled for this date; It probably replaced the Sullivan-Tracy bout; The outcome is not known Sep 7 Jim Corbett New Orleans, La (1:30) LK 21 -Heavyweight Championship of the World; Five-ounce gloves were used for this bout; Some sources report a time of 1:45 of round 21; Weights: 212 - 178 Sep 10 Jack Ashton New York, NY SCH Sep 10 Joe Lannon New York, NY SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date; The outcomes are not known Sep 17 Jack Ashton New York, NY SCH Sep 17 Leonard Tracy New York, NY SCH -The previous 2 bouts were scheduled the same date; The outcomes are not known but they were probably cancelled since Sullivan boxed Corbett on this date Sep 17 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 3 1894 May 21 Paddy Ryan Boston, Ma EX 3 Jun 26 Paddy Ryan Boston, Ma EX 3 1895 Jun 8 "Nonpareil" Jack Dempsey New York, NY EX Jun 27 Jim Corbett New York, NY EX 3 Jul 23 Paddy Ryan Bangor, Me EX 3 Jul 25 Paddy Ryan Bar Harbor, Me EX Oct 3 Paddy Ryan Philadelphia, Pa SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is not known Oct 5 Paddy Ryan Cleveland, Oh SCH -This bout was scheduled but cancelled; Mayor McKisson, of Cleveland, refused to allow the bout Oct 14 Paddy Ryan Jersey City, NJ EX 3 Nov 18 Paddy Ryan Buffalo, NY EX 3 1896 Aug 31 Tom Sharkey New York, NY EX 3 -One minute rounds were boxed 1897 Feb 17 Paddy Ryan Philadelphia, Pa EX 3 Bob Fitzsimmons Brooklyn, NY SCH -This bout was scheduled but not held; The men were present and ready to spar; Police intervened and prevented it 1900 Aug 28 Jim Jeffries New York, NY EX 3 Aug 29 Jeff Thorne New York, NY EX 3 1905 Mar 1 Jim McCormick Grand Rapids, Mi EX 2 -Sullivan knocked McCormick out