Bare-Knuckle Prizefighting Champion

"The Strong Boy."

John L. Sullivan, the last bare-knuckle prizefighting champion, was one of the first American sports heroes and contributed to the development of boxing. His father, Michael Sullivan, an Irish immigrant, encouraged his son to become a prizefighter because of his extraordinary strength. In his first recorded fight, Sullivan defeated John "Cockey" Woods in five rounds in Boston in 1879. By 1881 he was known in prizefighting circles as the "strong boy of Boston" because of his many victories by knockouts. Sullivan captured the world bare-knuckle heavyweight championship on 7 February 1882 by defeating Patrick "Paddy" Ryan in nine rounds on a barge in the Mississippi River near Mississippi City, Mississippi. From 1882 to 1887 he fought in thirty-two matches, winning each time. During this period he also participated in exhibitions, offering S500 cash to anyone who could last three rounds with him. No one...